San Pasqual remains Gift Box's next target – for now

ARCADIA, Calif. – Gift Box, who won the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes in his California debut on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds on Thursday for an expected start in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes on Feb. 2.

Trainer John Sadler left open the possibility that Gift Box would skip the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles in favor of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on March 9. With a purse of $500,000, the Big Cap at 1 1/4 miles is the richest race of the track’s winter-spring meeting for older horses.

“We’ll look at the race here,” Sadler said of the San Pasqual. “If I think it is too close, I’ll wait for the next one. I want to breeze him two or three times and I’ll know where I want to be.”

Owned by Pete and Kosta Hronis, Gift Box won the San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by a half-length in his first start since March. He was purchased privately last year as a prospect for the California older male division.

Sadler may have a busy afternoon on Feb. 2. He is considering the 3-year-old maiden race winner Nolo Contesto for the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, and Campaign and Platinum Warrior for the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Platinum Warrior was fifth, beaten 2 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. Campaign, a two-time winner at Kentucky Downs in September, was recently transferred from Steve Asmussen to Sadler and has had five workouts at Santa Anita.

Owned by Woodford Racing, Campaign was 10th in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Keeneland in October in his stakes debut and fifth start.