Hard Aces possible for Big Cap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hard Aces, the winner of the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita last June who was later sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in October, is a candidate for the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 12, trainer John Sadler said on Friday.

Hard Aces will be a longshot in the Big Cap, which is run at 1 1/4 miles. A 6-year-old, Hard Aces has started twice at the current winter-spring meeting, finishing fourth behind California Chrome in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 9 and fifth behind Hoppertunity in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 6.

California Chrome is racing in Dubai in the coming weeks, which leaves the Big Cap without a heavy favorite. Sadler said the distance of the Big Cap has the most appeal.

“I think he should be in there,” Sadler said. “He hasn’t been getting any pace in his races.”

Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Hard Aces was fourth behind the late Shared Belief in the 2015 Big Cap.

Hoppertunity is a contender for the Big Cap, along with Imperative and Donworth, who were second and third in the San Antonio. Other probable starters are Follow Me Crev and Prospect Park, the first two finishers of an optional claimer Feb. 14, and Cyrus Alexander, who was sixth in the San Antonio.

Trainer Phil D’Amato said on Friday that the turf stakes winner Big John B is more likely to start in the $200,000 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf March 13 than in the Big Cap.