Sadler aims three of his big guns to stakes at Santa Anita or Oaklawn

Grade 1 stakes winners Combatant, Higher Power, and Ollie’s Candy may start in stakes at Oaklawn Park or Santa Anita in April and May, while the Grade 1 winner Gift Box has been sidelined until May, trainer John Sadler said Friday.

Gift Box was the morning-line favorite for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, but did not start because of concern over an ankle. Subsequent tests determined that Gift Box needed a rest.

“He’s going to get 45 days and go back into training,” Sadler said.

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Combatant won the $600,000 Big Cap for Sadler and owners Pete and Kosta Hronis, who also own Gift Box and Higher Power. Sadler said Combatant will be considered for the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap, which now will be run on May 2 and had its purse cut from $1 million to $600,000.

Ollie’s Candy, who finished third in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 14 in her first start of the year, could start in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 18 at Oaklawn Park. Ollie’s Candy won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last August.

The Grade 2 Californian Stakes on April 18 at Santa Anita is a possibility for Higher Power, who won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar last August, but has not raced since finishing last of 10 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park in January.

Sadler acknowledged the situation could change as racetracks are forced to adjust schedules in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

“I’m trying to balance what’s going to happen versus training aggressively,” Sadler said. “We’re kind of dribbling the ball right now.”