Santa Anita Stable Notes

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2023

JOHN SADLER ; BENOIT PHOTO
SADLER’S STAKES TRIO INCLUDES INTRIGUING IMPORT
HALL OF FAMER MANDELLA AIMS FOR A STAKES DOUBLE
POWELL HOLDS STRONG HAND IN GI AMERICAN OAKS
WHITE ABARRIO TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED TO WORK SUNDAY
FIRST POST OPENING DAY IS 11 A.M.; GATES OPEN AT 9 A.M.

SADLER STAKES TRIO INCLUDES INTRIGUING SOUTH AMERICAN IMPORT
Trainer John Sadler ranks seventh all-time in stakes wins at Santa Anita. On Tuesday, the 67-year-old conditioner will look to add to his stakes haul with starters in three of the six graded races on opening day.
Sadler’s trio of contenders includes Missed the Cut, who returns to turf in the GII San Gabriel following an off-the-board finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 4; Panic Alarm in the GII Mathis Mile plus an intriguing South American import, Subsanador, in the GII San Antonio Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
Subsanador was a seven-time winner in 12 starts in Argentina, which includes pair of Group Is on dirt. The 4-year-old colt by Fortify arrived in Sadler’s barn in early September. He’s working up a storm heading into the San Antonio. Subsanador shows four straight bullets on the tab beginning Nov. 27, which includes a six-furlong move in 1:11.80 here Dec. 4. On Monday, Subsanador completed his major preparations with another six-furlong work in 1:13.20.
“We’ve given him plenty of time to acclimate and get used to California tracks,” Sadler said Saturday. “He’s trained really well. You don’t know until you run them, but he has a really good record in South America.”
Subsanador most recent outing was July 29 in Argentina when he won the GII Peru Stakes by a head going 1 1/8 miles on dirt.
In the San Antonio, Subsanador is installed as the 9-5 favorite on the morning line. He will have top rider Flavien Prat in the irons. Sadler expects his charge to be forwardly placed.
“He’s a stalker,” Sadler said. “Especially if you look at this race, there’s a lot of speed with Brickyard Ride and Newgrange. I imagine he’ll be coming a little off the pace.”
Missed the Cut (5-1) gets back on grass for the San Gabriel following two-straight dirt efforts. The 4-year-old Quality Road colt made his dirt debut going 1 ½ miles in the GIII Tokyo City here Oct. 10 and promptly scored by 5 ½ lengths.
Emboldened by that dirt effort, Sadler took a swing at the rich Breeders’ Cup Classic going 1 ¼ miles here Nov. 4. Missed the Cut was mid-pack early before fading to last in a field of 12.
“We kind of wanted to make him a dirt horse. It didn’t really work, even though he did when that marathon,” Sadler said. “We’re going to start the year on the turf, which he is a little more proven on.”
Bolstering Missed the Cut’s chances in the San Gabriel is the services of New York-based jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., a four-time Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s outstanding jockey including in 2022.
“Missed the Cut bounced out of the Breeders’ Cup really well. He hasn’t missed a work,” Sadler said. “We’re lucky to get Irad, who is obviously the leading rider in the country. We’re ready to go.”
Panic Alarm (5-1) will look for a breakthrough victory in the Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds. Bred in Ireland, the Kuroshio gelding has been close in three straight graded stakes since arriving stateside. Most recently, he was beaten 1 ¾ lengths in the Twilight Derby going 1 1/8 miles here under Frankie Dettori on Nov. 4.
“In the Twilight Derby, Dettori’s comment was he never saw daylight,” Sadler said. “One of those turf trips where he was down inside and couldn’t get out much. “I also think this is a better distance for him. He’s more of a miler.”
Panic Alarm, 5-1 on the morning line, will be ridden by Hector Berrios for the first time.
First post opening day for a 11-race card is 11 a.m. PT. Admission gates open at 9 a.m.

HALL OF FAMER MANDELLA AIMS FOR A STAKES DOUBLE OPENING DAY
Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella ranks fourth all-time in stakes wins at Santa Anita. With 142 stakes tallies to his credit entering the 2023-24 Classic Meet, he trails only Bob Baffert (217), Charlie Whittingham (204) and Bobby Frankel (146).
On opening day Tuesday, Mandella will have two chances to add to his total with Ice Dancing in the GI, $300,000 La Brea going seven furlongs on dirt and recent Grade II winner Salesman in the GII, $200,000 San Antonio at 1 1/16 miles on dirt.
Ice Dancing, listed at 6-1 on the morning line, will be making her second start following a 9 ½ month layoff. Winner of the GIII Santa Ynez going seven furlongs here in January, Ice Dancing returned in a 6 ½-furlong allowance here Oct. 28 and finished a grudging second by a half length after contesting the pace.
“It was good,” Mandella said of Ice Dancing’s comeback effort. “She needs to be a little better to win this, but I’m hoping she is.”
Ice Dancing is a homebred by Frosted for Perry and Ramona Bass. She will have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons, who was also aboard for her comeback.
Mandella also hoped to enter allowance winner Coffee in Bed in the La Brea, but that plan was scrapped when training was halted this week for three days due to rain.
“The three days of lost training really hurt me with her. She’s a nervous-type filly who ties up and I didn’t want to take a chance,” Mandella said. “We’ll have to wait for the La Canada.”
Salesman cuts back in distance for the San Antonio following an 8 ¼-length romp in the GII Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance when going1 5/8 miles here Nov. 4. It was just the second start on dirt for the 6-year-old Irish-bred gelding by Dubawi, who started his career in France.
“He’s doing great. We’re going to have to hope he can run as good at this distance as he did at a mile-and-five-eighths,” Mandella noted.
Salesman is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line for the San Antonio. Smith will take over in the irons for Flavien Prat, who was aboard for the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance win but has opted for 9-5 favorite Subsanador in this spot.
The San Antonio goes as the sixth race on Tuesday’s 11-race program. Post time is approximately 1:30 p.m. PT. The La Brea is 10th race with post time at approximately 3:30 p.m.

POWELL HOLDS STRONG HAND IN GI AMERICAN OAKS
Trainer Leonard Powell is double-barreled for the GI, $300,000 American Oaks going 1 ¼ miles on turf here Tuesday. Set to go for the 43-year-old Frenchman are Anisette, the 8-5 favorite on the morning line, and 20-1 outsider Grace Period.
After starting her career in England, Anisette came stateside last winter and promptly won three straight races including the GII San Clemente in July and GI Del Mar Oaks in August. Most recently, she has been runner-up in two straight efforts.
When taking on older in the GII Rodeo Drive going 1 ¼ miles here Oct. 7, Anisette was bested by the highly acclaimed Didia. Then when back in with 3-year-olds for the Autumn Miss going a mile here Nov. 5, she ran into a buzzsaw in front-running winner Ruby Nell. The winning time for the race was a swift 1:32.60
“She was flawless through the summer, then we tried older in the Rodeo Drive and she ran a bang-up race. She just got beat by a better horse on that day,” Powell said. “We regrouped against 3-year-olds, she again ran a very good race but got beat by a filly who that day went a mile in 1:32. I don’t think she lost anything in defeat.”
For the American Oaks, Anisette will have regular rider Umberto Rispoli in the irons.
Grace Period is making her third U.S. start after a pair of off-the-board efforts going a mile on turf against allowance company. The connections are hoping the Creative Cause filly can at least get a minor share.
“It looked on paper like it was going to be a small field. The owners are breeders and if she can hit the board it will add value to the whole family. That was the purpose for entering the race,” Powell said.
Grace Period will be ridden for the first time by Jose Lezcano.
The American Oaks goes as the fifth race with post time at approximately 1 p.m. PT.

FINISH LINES: White Abarrio is tentatively scheduled to work Sunday for the first time since winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic here Nov. 4, assistant trainer Chip Dutrow said Saturday…First post Tuesday is 11 a.m…Training was limited to joggers only Saturday due to recent rainstorms. Full training will resume Sunday…Track announcer Frank Mirahmadi will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Tuesday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 9:50 a.m… On-track fans opening day will receive a free wall calendar while supplies last with paid admission… Every Friday during the Classic Meet, on-track fans will enjoy free admission and parking plus $3 beers and $5 margaritas.

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