$1.55 Million Purchase Nuclear Debuts at Santa Anita

Set to make his debut Feb. 11 at Santa Anita Park for trainer John Sadler is Nuclear , a 3-year-old colt by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify   who commanded $1.55 million at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Under leading rider Juan Hernandez, Nuclear will face nine rivals in a six-furlong maiden special weight on turf, which goes as the final race on a 10-race card at approximately 5 p.m. PT. He is the 3-1 morning-line favorite.

"He'll probably be better going long second time, but he still has a chance in his first start," said Sadler, who tweeted a picture of the colt under tack Feb. 9.

Nuclear pic.twitter.com/mYpnAUaAoS

— John W. Sadler (@johnwsadler) February 9, 2023

KING: Justify Colt Sells for $1.55 Million at Keeneland

Nuclear has been working at Santa Anita since early December and most recently has reeled off four straight five-furlong drills, which includes a five-furlong move in 1:00 Jan. 28. Last summer, Nuclear had been in training at Del Mar but Sadler was forced to back off the colt due to what he said were shin issues.

"You can tell by his price tag we're anxious to get him going," Sadler said. "We decided to start him on grass because of the way he's trained. The way he moves, I thought the turf was the way to get started, but he looks like a good prospect."

Nuclear is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Talla Racing, and his yearling consignor and breeder, Stonehaven Steadings. He is out of the grade 3-placed Latent Heat mare True Feelings , who previously produced stakes winner Feeling Mischief  and graded stakes-placed Royal Act .