Salesman possible for Santa Anita Handicap

Salesman, unraced since an easy win in the Grade 3 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Santa Anita in November, is a candidate for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 2, the track’s main race for older horses in the winter.

Salesman, trained by Richard Mandella for Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, worked a half-mile in a rapid 46 seconds at Santa Anita on Wednesday, the fastest of 50 works at the distance.

“He broke off behind several horses and he caught all of them but one,” Mandella said. “It was more than I expected.”

Salesman was scratched from the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Dec. 26 after he tied up a few days before that race. A start in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes last Saturday was scrapped after Salesman had a poor blood test, Mandella said.

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Wednesday’s workout was the first for Salesman since he went seven furlongs in 1:25.80 on Jan. 19. Mandella said he worked Salesman on Wednesday out of necessity because of expected wet conditions in Southern California on Thursday.

Salesman won the TAA Stakes at 1 5/8 miles by 8 1/4 lengths for his first win in his fourth start in the United States and the fourth win of his 26-race career. A 7-year-old gelding, Salesman was a three-time winner in France in 2021 and 2022.

On Monday, Forbidden Kingdom, the winner of the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes for turf sprinters on Dec. 30, worked a half-mile in 47.80 seconds. Mandella said the 5-year-old Forbidden Kingdom is a candidate for the $2 million 1351 Turf Sprint at about 6 3/4 furlongs in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 24.

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