Sadler still mulling options for Higher Power

ARCADIA, Calif. – After being a complete no-show in the Pegasus World Cup last month, Higher Power has returned to Santa Anita and is back working, though trainer John Sadler is still unsure as to where he’ll turn up next.

Higher Power went five furlongs in 1:02.80 on Friday morning, his second drill since the Pegasus.

Sadler said Higher Power would be nominated to the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, run at the same 1 1/4-mile distance as last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, in which Higher Power was third behind Vino Rosso and McKinzie.

“We might run him in the Big Cap, but right now we plan on only running Gift Box,” Sadler said.

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Gift Box won the Santa Anita Handicap last year. He comes off a victory in the Grade 2 San Antonio on opening day, Dec. 28, his first start following a six-month layoff.

Both Higher Power and Gift Box are owned by Kosta and Pete Hronis. Gift Box is scheduled to work Sunday.

Venetian Harbor sizzles in workout

Venetian Harbor, who comes off a romping win in the Las Virgenes on Feb. 8 to place herself among the best 3-year-old fillies in the country, flew four furlongs in 46.20 seconds on Friday morning at Santa Anita in her first work since that race. She is scheduled to make her next start April 4, in either the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks or Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland.

Her trainer, Richard Baltas, also sent out Ginobili on Friday morning for a half-mile drill in 49.80. Second most recently to Nadal in the San Vicente, Ginobili is scheduled to head to Aqueduct for the Bay Shore for his next start.

◗ American Theorem, unraced since finishing second to Eight Rings in the American Pharoah last fall, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Friday for trainer George Papaprodromou.

◗ United, winner of the San Marcos last time out, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Richard Mandella as he stays on course for a start in Dubai next month. United was second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last fall to Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar.

◗ Cezanne, a Curlin colt whose $3.65 million purchase price made him the most expensive 2-year-old sold at auction in 2019, has worked three times this year at Los Alamitos, where he went a half-mile in 47.20 on Wednesday for Bob Baffert.