'Trickski Gives Sadler a Stakes Triple

Dearest Trickski handed trainer John Sadler his third stakes win at Hollywood Park June 28 when she led all the way in the $150,000 A Gleam Handicap (gr. II) (VIDEO) on the Hollywood Park Cushion Track.

Winner of the La Brea Stakes (gr. I) in December, the speedy 4-year-old filly was overlooked in the wagering at odds of nearly 7-1. She tossed in a clunker May 17 in her first start since winning the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Sprint by 4 1/2 lengths Jan. 26. The Florida-bred daughter of Proudest Romeo was reunited with jockey Mike Smith in the A Gleam.

Sadler earlier won the Landaluce Stakes with the 2-year-old filly Emmy Darling and saddled the American Handicap (gr. II) winner Whatsthescript.

Dearest Trickski flew out of the gate from her outside post in the field of 11 and was clear of the field within a couple of strides. From there, she controlled the pace by two lengths or more while clicking off fractions of :22.83 and :45.41. Tiz Elemental was making a move on the outside when she bumped with the slowing Dawn After Dawn straightening away for the stretch run.  That allowed Dearest Trickski to open up a commanding lead en route to a 2 1/4-length victory in a solid time of 1:21.55.

"It was all about her getting into a rhythm.," Smith said "When she breaths, she keeps running. She caught a flyer leaving there today. I was able to put my hands down and just let her get her neck out. She got her air and she ran very well."

Magnificience, the 5-2 favorite, hopped at the break from the starting stall inside of Dearest Trickski. in spite of the trouble, she weaved her way through traffic and closed willingly to earn the runner-up spot under jockey David Flores.

"She was moving around a little in the gate, but I don't think that was an excuse," Flores said. "I didn't want to rush her because I thought there was enough speed to go with the leader. I was in a good spot. The winner just got an easy lead and nobody chased her. Sometimes that's just the way it is."

Romance Is Diane was one length farther behind in third with Rafael Bejarano aboard.Intangaroo, who was coming off a grade I victory in the Humana Distaff at Churchill Downs May 18, settled for fourth.

Dearest Trickski, a $10,000 claim at Lone Star Park in April 2007, won for the 10th time in 15 lifetime starts. Sadler claimed the bay filly for Tom Mankiewicz for $32,000 last August and had won five races in a row with her before she ran fourth in the Desert Stormer at Hollywood in her last start. She earned $90,000 for the victory and has now banked $540,108 in her career.

“When things were going good we used all the races and decided to give her a little rest after the Sunshine Millions," said Sadler, who plans to keep Dearest Trickski on synthetic tracks. "Then she got sick, so that kind of set her back for the prep race.

"We definitely wanted to be on the lead and she got a clear lead and that was the key," he added.

The winner carried 118 pounds and paid $15.80, $7.60 and $4.80, topping a $2 exacta worth $66.40. Magnificience lost for the first time in four starts for trainer Bruce Headley, returning $4.60 and $3.60. Romance Is Diane, winner of the Bayakoa Handicap (gr. II) on the Hollywood Cushion Track last December, was $5.60 to show for trainer Mike Mitchell.

Fourth-place finisher Intangaroo was the co-high weight at 122 pounds with Tiz Elemental, who finished fifth. Then came Spenditallbaby, Petite Cherie, Dawn After Dawn, Ashley's Kitty, Political Web and Missvinski.

(Chart, Equibase)