Captivator drops from Grade 2 into allowance

Captivator kept good company when he finished a troubled third in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes on Sept. 19 at Parx Racing.

Race winner Stradale is entered in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland. Dr. Kapur, who finished second, returned to win the Grade 3 Perryville Stakes at 24-1 on Oct. 17 at Keeneland.

Captivator has his turn to boost the form of the Gallant Bob when he starts in an allowance race Friday at Santa Anita.

Owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, Captivator will be favored in a race at 6 1/2 furlongs that drew five opponents, including stablemate Ahrens.

Captivator, who has won 3 of 6 starts, finished three lengths behind Stradale in the $400,000 Gallant Bob Stakes for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Captivator stumbled at the start and raced wide on the backstretch before contending for the lead in early stretch. Captivator was unable to sustain the effort and was beaten three lengths.

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“He stumbled at the start or he would have won,” Sadler said last weekend. “He really ran a good race. The form is solid.”

Sadler said Captivator is under consideration for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

Ahrens and Captivator are the only 3-year-olds in a field of six on Friday.

Ahrens, owned by Desert Sun Stables, won an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 1 at Del Mar in his last start. Ahrens was scratched from the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Sept. 26 because of illness.

Ahrens and Captivator are in the same race for the first time out of necessity.

“I don’t want to run both together, but they’re ready to go,” Sadler said.

Ahrens, claimed for $32,000 from a win in a maiden race in February, and Captivator are both quick enough to lead. Prior to the loss in the Gallant Bob, Captivator won two six-furlong allowance races at Santa Anita and Del Mar in June and July, his only other starts this year.

Three of the other four runners have stakes experience.

Mirahmadi, trained by Bob Baffert, was second in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in July 2025. This is his first appearance in a sprint since a third-place finish in a maiden race in September 2024.

Speedy Wilson and Mr. Disrespectful were second and third in the E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebred milers on Sept. 19 at Los Alamitos. Mr. Disrespectful has since finished a well-beaten third in a starter allowance at seven furlongs on Oct. 10.

Speedy Wilson was fourth behind Captivator in an allowance race at six furlongs on July 31 at Del Mar, and third in the Malibu Stakes last December.

“He’s run some big races around one turn,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Speedy Wilson drew the outside post, which D’Amato said may provide a tactical advantage.

“With the outside post, it gives him an opportunity to move sooner if need be,” D’Amato said.

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