John Sadler's chance at a record-setting third straight win in the GI Santa Anita H. looked imperiled when he had to scratch morning-line favorite Gift Box (Twirling Candy) Saturday morning, but the trainer was able to pick up the historic achievement when Combatant (Scat Daddy) came home first in the 1 1/4-mile race Saturday afternoon.
“It was a great day; we were just thrilled,” said Sadler, who also sent out Flagstaff (Speightstown) to take the GII San Carlos S. Saturday. “To win our third Big 'Cap in a row is tremendous. I'm really happy. Saturday morning, we were down here [holding his hand near ankle level] after we learned Gift Box wouldn't run, and we ended the day up here [hand above his head]. It was an emotional roller coaster.”
Of Gift Box, Sadler added, “Gift Box had a little swelling in his ankle, we're going to do some tests the next couple of days, it doesn't look like anything terrible, but he wasn't good to go yesterday. Everybody forgets these are horses and things happen. They get sick and that's part of the game.”
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