Allowance success may boost Captivator to stakes start, Sadler says

DEL MAR, Calif. - Consecutive wins in allowance races for sprinters have left the 3-year-old gelding Captivator nearing his first stakes start of the year.

Last Friday at Del Mar, Captivator won a tough race at six furlongs by three-quarters of a length at 8-1 after disputing the early pace. Ridden by Emisael Jaramillo, Captivator was timed in 1:09.08 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 93.

The result left trainer John Sadler contemplating a start in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds worth $400,000 at Parx Racing on Sept. 19. Sadler, who trains Captivator for Hronis Racing, said he was leaning against a start in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs against older horses at Del Mar on Aug. 29.

“He ran great. He ran so hard and so fast,” Sadler said. “I wouldn’t put him against older in the Pat O’Brien.”

By Charlatan, Captivator has won 3 of 5 starts. In his only previous start in a stakes, Captivator was pulled up in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles last December, his only start beyond a sprint.

“He needed corrective throat surgery and we gelded him,” Sadler said.

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