Trainer has high hopes for Morganite

Trainer John Sadler said he doesn’t crank up his 2-year-olds – “If they win first time out, it’s because they’re pretty nice horses,” he said – so he’s particularly encouraged by Morganite, a daughter of Gemologist who was a debut winner against maiden 2-year-old fillies on Saturday at Del Mar.

“She’ll run once more here. I don’t know if she’ll run twice more here,” Sadler said. “I think she’s got a lot of quality, and she’ll be better when she goes farther. She’s got a lot of upside.”

Options for Morganite are the Grade 2 $200,000 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 6 or, more likely, simply waiting until the Grade 1 $300,000 Del Mar Debutante on Sept. 3.

The Sorrento was expected to be headed by the Super Saver filly Dynamite Charge, a debut winner at Santa Anita on July 4, but she suffered a fatal injury just after finishing a workout Sunday at Del Mar.

◗ Lord Nelson, the recent winner of the Grade 1 Triple Bend at Santa Anita, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Monday for Bob Baffert.

◗ Om, preparing for his first start since the Kilroe Mile in March, worked six furlongs in 1:15.20 for trainer Dan Hendricks. He’s pointing to the Grade 2, $200,000 Del Mar Mile on turf Aug. 21.