American Stakes has Grade 1 Appeal

Next Saturday’s Grade III American Stakes has all the makings of a Grade I, with at least two Grade I winners expected for the one mile grass race in Frank E. Kilroe Mile winner Winning Prize and Shoemaker Mile winner Obviously.

Both horses worked on Santa Anita’s firm turf course Saturday, Winning Prize going six furlongs in company in 1:14 for Neil Drysdale, and Obviously going five furlongs under Joe Talamo in a bullet 58 flat for Phil D’Amato.

Winning Prize has the highest Beyer Figure (105) on turf at all distances through Thursday. Corey Nakatani, who was aboard for the front-running Kilroe win on March 8, will be back aboard.

Talamo, Santa Anita’s Spring Meet riding leader through nine days with 12 wins, pilots Obviously for the 13th straight time in the American. The 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding will be making his first start since last Nov. 2, when he finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, but shows eight bullet drills among his most recent workouts.

Also expected in the American Stakes is Grade II winner Silentio, who missed winning the 2013 Kilroe by a nose under Rafael Bejarano, who retains the mount for trainer Gary Mandella.

American Stakes nominee Jeranimo, yet another Grade I winner (the Eddie Read last July at Del Mar) worked five furlongs on turf for Mike Pender in 1:04.20, but the trainer said a prep for defense of his title in this year’s Eddie Read “is yet to be determined.”