One of the best stories of 2024 was that of Full Serrano, an Argentine-bred who came to the U.S. that year and nearly won the Pacific Classic before returning to Del Mar in November and capturing the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
He hasn’t raced since, but returns next Monday in a second-level allowance race at Del Mar.
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“He’s doing very well,” trainer John Sadler said. “We’re really excited. A mile on dirt are the perfect conditions for him.”
Sadler had entered Full Serrano in the Del Mar Mile (G2) on turf on the Pacific Classic undercard Saturday, but decided to keep the 6-year-old on the dirt. He’s no stranger to the turf having run on it four times in his native country before shipping to the States.
It didn’t take Full Serrano long to find the winner’s circle here, capturing his U.S. debut, an entry-level allowance race at Del Mar. Then in the Pacific Classic, he set the pace and was clear at the sixteenth pole only to get run down by surging longshot Mixto, who caught him in the final strides.
Sadler and owner Kosta Hronis had to live with the disappointing near miss in the Classic for two months until Full Serrano made his connections forget all about it with a wire-to-wire score in the Dirt Mile.
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An injury in December set Full Serrano back but he starts the journey to defend his crown Monday.
“It’s the start of a three-race process,” Sadler points out. “This one, a race at Santa Anita, and then he’ll be ready for the Breeders’ Cup, I’m hoping.”
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.