Calculator to Make Return at Santa Anita

Once a legitimate hopeful for the Triple Crown series, Richard Pell's Calculator will make his first start in more than a year Feb. 13 at Santa Anita Park.



A training injury and the required ankle surgery that followed knocked the son of In Summation   off the Triple Crown trail after his breakthrough 4 1/4-length score in the Sham Stakes (gr. III) in January of 2015.



BOSSERT: Calculator Breaks Through in Sham Stakes



But it was what happened after his injury that truly flattered the gray Peter Miller trainee.



American Pharoah  , whose 2014 Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) and Frontrunner (gr. I) victories saw Calculator finish in both as the runner-up, went on to win the first Triple Crown in 37 years and continued to shine en route to 2015 Horse of the Year honors.



Calculator also ran fourth in the maiden race of all maiden races during the summer in 2014 at Del Mar, which featured American Pharoah, multiple graded stakes winner Om (who took the maiden special weight event), and graded stakes-placed runners Iron Fist, Daddy D T, and One Lucky Dane.



BALAN: 'Pharoah' Upsetter Om Eyes Next Start



Now the colt who showed so much promise (he was 20-1 in the first Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool, while American Pharoah was 12-1) is starting over as a 4-year-old. Because he broke his maiden in the Sham, he still qualifies for the non-winners of one allowance going seven furlongs Saturday afternoon. Miller has been encouraged by his workouts at the trainer's southward base, San Luis Rey Training Center.



"He looks like the same horse to me," Miller said. "You never know, because he's been off a long time, but it's a good spot for him. If he runs his race, he should win. I don't think I've got him completely cranked up. He's probably at about 90%, but this is just a first step.



"It's always gratifying to get any horse back after an injury like that. You just hope he's the same horse."