Growth Engine out of San Pasqual with sore foot

A bruised foot will postpone the California debut of Growth Engine, initially scheduled to make his first start for trainer John Sadler and owner Hronis Racing in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Growth Engine worked five furlongs on Jan. 22.

“He worked good, and the next day he had a little bit of a sore foot,” Sadler said Wednesday morning.

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Purchased for $150,000 at a November auction, Growth Engine is a 5-year-old gelding by Tapit. He won 3 of 7 starts, all for trainer Chad Brown and Klaravich Stables, before he was sold.

The setback is untimely, though not serious. Sadler expects Growth Engine to make his local debut later this meet when he will try to emulate recent Hronis acquisitions Gift Box, Combatant, and Higher Power. All became Grade 1 winners as older horses after transferring to Sadler.

The $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes, run at 1 1/8 miles, will have a small field. The projected starters include Express Train, Idol, King Guillermo, and Tizamagician.