Fever knocks Full Serrano out of California Crown

Full Serrano, second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in his American stakes debut on Aug. 31, was recently diagnosed with a temperature that will prevent the 5-year-old Argentine-bred from starting in the Grade 1 California Crown at Santa Anita on Sept. 28.

Trainer John Sadler on Thursday that Full Serrano has recovered from the brief illness and will resume racetrack exercise on Friday. The setback has led to an uncertain racing schedule for Full Serrano this fall.

“He does not run in this race here,” Sadler said. “It’s a real shame. We’ll see how he comes back.”

A minor stakes winner in Argentina last December, Full Serrano won his American debut in an allowance race at a mile at Del Mar on Aug. 3. In the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles, Full Serrano set the pace to the final sixteenth before finishing a half-length behind surprise winner Mixto.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Full Serrano has won 5 of 16 starts.

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The $1 million California Crown is run at 1 1/8 miles and is the richest race of the Santa Anita autumn meeting, which runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 27. The winner of the California Crown receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Mixto, trained by Doug O’Neill, is being deliberately held out of the California Crown and will be trained toward the BC Classic.

Sadler recently added the stakes winner Alpha Bella to his stable from trainer Todd Pletcher. Owned by Don Alberto Corp., Alpha Bella finished sixth of seven in her last start in the Grade 2 Glens Falls Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Saratoga on Aug. 1. Earlier this year, Alpha Bella won the Grade 3 La Preyvoyante Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Gulfstream Park.

Alpha Bella has recorded quick works in recent weeks at Santa Anita, including six furlongs in 1:11.60 on dirt last Saturday. Sadler said Alpha Bella is a candidate for one of two Grade 2 stakes worth $200,000 for fillies and mares at Santa Anita in coming weekends - the Zenyatta Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on dirt on Sept. 29, or the Rodeo Drive Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on Oct. 5.

In the sprint division, Sadler said the stakes winner Bran is a candidate for the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Sept. 28, while For All Mankind, the winner of an allowance race at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 10, is possible for the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Sept. 29.

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