Hard Aces looks ready for San Pasqual

ARCADIA, Calif. – Of the eight projected runners in Saturday’s $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita, Hard Aces is the only Grade 1 winner in Southern California in 2015.

His upset win in the Grade 1, $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June defined the season for Hard Aces. He later finished sixth in three consecutive Grade 1 races – the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Hard Aces has not raced since the BC Classic, and trainer John Sadler is hoping the 6-year-old horse can rebound Saturday in a field that includes 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome.

Sadler said he was encouraged by a six-furlong workout in 1:12.80 by Hard Aces last Saturday.

“In my experience, when you run in the Breeders’ Cup, you don’t want to come back too quick,” he said. “He’s doing well. He had his best work last Saturday. He’s a notoriously slow work horse.”

Owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis, Hard Aces has been overshadowed in the buildup to the San Pasqual by California Chrome. The Grade 2 San Pasqual at 1 1/16 miles will be California Chrome’s first start since a second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last March. The same race on March 26 is a goal this year for California Chrome.

The expected runners in the San Pasqual field include Hoppertunity, who won the 2015 San Pasqual, as well as Alfa Bird, Blingo, Imperative, Mystery Train, and Point Piper.