Hard Aces destined for Marathon Stakes at Santa Anita in November
CYPRESS, Calif. - Hard Aces, who won the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar in July, but was only eighth in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20, is being pointed to the $200,000 Marathon Stakes at 1 3/4 miles at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.
Where Hard Aces starts in the interim is unclear, trainer John Sadler said over the weekend.
“I’ve got to figure out a way to get him to the Marathon,” he said. “I’d like to race him once before then. It could be the Awesome Again.”
The $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 1. The list of candidates is led by California Chrome, the winner of the Pacific Classic and the leading older horse this year.
Hard Aces has resumed workouts since the Pacific Classic. He worked a half-mile in 50.20 seconds Saturday at Santa Anita; it was his first workout since the Pacific Classic.
Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Hard Aces has won 7 of 34 starts and $999,990. He won the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June 2015, his most prestigious win.
The Marathon Stakes is part of the undercard on the first day of the Breeders’ Cup races at Santa Anita’s autumn meeting.