Subsanador to be pointed toward Californian

Subsanador will have a California-based campaign this spring after the Argentine-bred finished a game second in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap last Sunday in his second start in the United States.

Subsanador set the pace in the Big Cap at 1 1/4 miles and led to the final strides before he was beaten by a head by Newgate.

Trainer John Sadler said on Friday that Subsanador will be pointed for the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 20.

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“We were thrilled” with the Santa Anita Handicap, Sadler said. “We thought he ran a super race. We were hoping we’d get the head bob.

“It was a good effort. He ran the way he trained. That was a good strong race for him.”

In the long-term, races such as the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup on May 27 and the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in late summer are goals. Those races are run at 1 1/4 miles.

“We think he’ll be a good summer horse,” Sadler said. “The horses from South America bloom with more time in this country.”

Owned by Stud Facundito, the 5-year-old Subsanador has won 7 of 14 starts. Well-regarded when he arrived from Argentina last year, Subsanador finished fourth of five as the 6-5 favorite in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 in his American debut.

In Argentina in 2022 and last year, Subsanador was a six-time stakes winner, including two Group 1 races for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in May and June of 2022.

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