Santa Anita
Imperative will skip Big Cap
Coady Photography Claimed for $50,000, Imperative won the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in April.
Imperative, the winner of the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic in West Virginia last April, will bypass the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7 in favor of the Charles Town Classic on April 18.
Imperative was sixth Feb. 7 in the San Antonio Stakes, finishing 9 1/2 lengths behind Shared Belief. Imperative is winless in seven starts since the 2014 Charles Town Classic.
“I think I’ll build up his confidence and go from there,” trainer George Papaprodromou said.
Aside from Shared Belief, the Big Cap candidates are Bronzo, Catch a Flight, Cool Samurai, Crimson Giant, Hard Aces, Patrioticandproud, and Sr. Quisqueyano.