Favored Sidney's Candy got a quick jump out of the gate and never looked back en route to a decisive 4 1/4-length victory in the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) on the Presidents' Day card at Santa Anita Feb. 15.
At a Thoroughbred Owners of California summit meeting Feb. 13 at Santa Anita, the subject of racetrack surfaces dominated all other issues.
Sue Dowling, who bred the stakes-winning gelding Ranger Heartley with her husband, Craig Upham, decided to name the horse after a local heroic army ranger, Sgt. Jeffrey Hartley, who was killed in Iraq in April 2008.
Her last four stakes wins have come at seven furlongs, but if grade I winner Evita Argentina hopes to add the $250,000 Santa Monica Handicap (gr. I) to her fine record, she'll need to be at her best at Santa Anita Jan. 31.
Meeting for the first time Jan. 27, the newly-elected board members of the organization representing California trainers announced its support for replacement of the state's synthetic tracks.
Though somewhat erratic through the homestretch, Ranger Heartley held off odds-on choice Connemara to win the $100,000 California Derby by three-quarters of a length at Golden Gate Fields Jan. 16.
Crisp, who blew the turn in her prior start yet still managed to break her maiden, proved to be an impressive winner of the Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita Jan. 10.
The much anticipated return of Sidney's Candy became a bit of a disappointment when the 2-year-old was beaten by Tiny Woods, finishing fourth in an allowance race at Santa Anita.
Last at the quarter-pole, Evita Argentina charged while extremely wide in the stretch to mow down the field and earn her first grade I win in the $300,000 La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Dec. 26.
The Morvich Handicap (gr. IIIT) winner is 7-2 in the morning line.
John Sadler will have five horses entered in World Championship races this year. None of them will be favored, but all of them have credentials to pull an upset.
A change in tactics helped Black Mamba capture the $125,000 Rood and Riddle Dowager Stakes at Keeneland in likely the final start of her career Oct. 25.
Jockey Joel Rosario, who claimed his first-ever riding title during the 2009 spring/summer meet at Hollywood Park, came right back to easily capture the division championship at the just-concluded Del Mar stand.
Impressive stakes winners Carlsbad and Evita Argentina head a field of nine fillies and mares going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) on Sept.4 at Del Mar.
Ten fillies and mares have been nominated for the Aug. 9 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I), the anticipated next start for unbeaten Zenyatta.
A little more speed in the lineup and a turf course that's not quite so conducive to front-runners would help trainer John Sadler feel better about the chances of Whatsthescript in the $350,000 Eddie Read Stakes (gr. IT) at July 25, the highlight on the opening weekend of action at Del Mar.
Bobby Frankel and John Sadler will each send out a pair of fillies and mares in the 42nd edition of the $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap (gr. IIT), a nine-furlong turf test March 22 at Santa Anita.
Dearest Trickski's road to the Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint began late last year, when the Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita failed to fill. That pushed the filly into the grade I La Brea Stakes Dec. 29, and a victory there gave owner Tom Mankiewicz and trainer John Sadler grander ideas.
Gary and Cecil Barber arrived at Clocker's Corner Oct. 19 in time to see the sunrise. However, they were paying more attention to Cost of Freedom, their $50,000 claim who has soared into contention for the Oct. 25 Sentient Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I).
Four complaints have been filed against trainer John Sadler by the California Horse Racing Board, alleging that horses in his care ran with excessive amounts of the synthetic anabolic steroid stanozolol in their systems during the month of August at Del Mar, where Sadler was the leading trainer.
Trainer John Sadler says he unlikely to return to his role as board president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers and could be part of a push to form a new organization.
Dearest Trickski, claimed for $32,000 a little more than a year ago, continued her amazing run toward the top of the filly and mare sprint division, as she broke to an early lead under Mike Smith and held off Tiz Elemental by a nose to win the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) in scintillating fashion Aug. 24 at Del Mar.
Lightly-raced 4-year-old Magnificience was installed as the 3-1 morning-line favorite in a contentious field of 10 fillies and mares lining up for the $200,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) Aug. 24 on the Del Mar Polytrack.
While he's withholding comment, leading trainer John Sadler says that he and his attorney have discussed a shakedown of his Del Mar stable by California Horse Racing Board investigators Aug. 18 and they will respond soon.
Eighty-four horses, representing 17 different U.S. states and one Canadian province, were pre-entered July 23 for the 2008 Claiming Crown, which will take place Aug. 2 at Canterbury Park.
Crossing the Line, sidelined after winning the Del Mar Mile Handicap (gr. IIT), is gearing up for a return at the races at the upcoming Hollywood Park spring/summer meet, which gets under way April 23.
Seven 3-year-old fillies, including a pair of Breeders' Cup starters, will contest the Feb. 9 event at Santa Anita.
Coco Belle notched her second consecutive victory and first stakes score when she seized the lead at the quarter pole of the Oct. 27 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park and prevailed over Intentional Fever.
Ever since she came into his barn, John Sadler has been waiting for the chance to see Tasha's Miracle go two turns. The Southern California trainer will finally have that opportunity Sept. 29, as his talented 2-year-old filly headlines a field of 11 in the $250,000 Oak Leaf Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita.
Joy Ride Racing's odds-on favorite Noble Court was all out to do it, but under a strong-armed ride from Corey Nakatani they held off the determined closer Law Breaker to win the $150,000 San Vicente (gr. II) for 3-year-olds by a head at Santa Anita Sunday.
According to the California Horse Racing Board's weekly update, the board has filed complaints against trainers John Sadler and Vladimir Cerin.
Healthy Addiction will be bred to Tiznow. Hollywood Story will visit Storm Cat.
Trainer John Sadler on Wednesday welcomed 15 horses to his Hollywood Park stable from veteran owner Edmund Gann, who transferred them from Bobby Frankel after an alliance of more than 30 years.
Pamela Ziebarth's Healthy Addiction helped solidify plans for the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) with a repeat win in the $233,500 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Oak Tree's Santa Anita meeting Sunday.
Defending champion Healthy Addiction is among five fillies and mares that could advance to bigger things with a winning effort Sunday in the Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) over the Santa Anita main track.
Several runners with their eyes on upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championship prep races around the country lit up the Southern California work tab Sept. 18, led by Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) winner Point Ashley, who logged six furlongs in 1:11 4/5, breezing, on the fast main track at Santa Anita Park.
Keith Abraham's Get Funky, claimed as a maiden by John Sadler in April for $62,500 and immediately moved to the turf, drew off mid-stretch and held on gamely to win the $400,000 Del Mar Derby (gr. IIT) on the grass Sunday.
Front-running Cindago left the former Triple Crown contenders Bob and John and 2-5 favorite Brother Derek behind when he won the $106,300 El Cajon at one mile for 3-year-olds by a half-length at Del Mar Saturday.
Pamela Ziebarth's Healthy Addiction put away the challenge of even-money favorite Happy Ticket mid-stretch and went on to a 1 3/4-length victory in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap (gr. II) for fillies and mares at Del Mar Sunday.
She's an Eleven, who finished a disappointing fifth as the favorite in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) in mid-May at Pimlico, will try to regain her winning ways when she returns to Hollywood Park in Sunday's $150,000-added Hollywood Breeders' Cup Oaks.
She's An Eleven is among the likely favorites for Friday's $250,000 Woodford Reserve Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico.
She's An Eleven has earned a start in the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico on Friday, trainer John Sadler said Sunday.
Roger Olguin, agent for apprentice jockey sensation Martin Garcia, had a busy first morning on the Hollywood Park backstretch Wednesday. He booked six mounts for Friday, Garcia's first program at the Southern California track.
With the wind whipping through Belmont Park Monday morning, trainer John Sadler had a quick thought. "This is not Del Mar," the Southern California-based trainer said.
Symphonic Movement, a colt from the first crop of High Demand, lived up to his sire's name and was so in demand with buyers that he topped the California October yearling sale Tuesday at Barretts. The muscular bay brought $290,000.
Pamela Ziebarth's Healthy Addiction overcame a challenge from favored Island Fashion and a lengthy steward inquiry to win the $235,000 Lady's Secret Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. II) at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting Sunday.
Musique Toujours, upset winner of the Sunshine Millions Classic in January, worked six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 Monday for Saturday's $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (gr. I).
Hombre Rapido, an 8-year-old gelding who has competed in the last three runnings of the Los Angeles Times Handicap (gr. III) for sprinters, will attempt to emulate his 2003 victory when facing five rivals Saturday in the $150,000 renewal at Hollywood Park.
Santa Anita Park's 70th anniversary season concludes Monday with the $100,000-added San Simeon Handicap (gr. IIT) highlighting the finale of the 85-day winter/spring meeting.
Seven furlongs and racing at Santa Anita always seem to bring out the best in Hasty Kris. Combined with a rail-skimming ride from Rene Douglas, it was more than enough to put the 8-year-old gelding in the winner's circle after capturing the $150,000 San Carlos Handicap (gr. II) Saturday.
