Flyover Jets To Front-Running Victory In Sensational Star Stakes For California-Breds Going About 6 ½ Furlongs On The Hillside Turf Course Sunday At Santa Anita

__FLYOVER JETS TO FRONT-RUNNING VICTORY IN SENSATIONAL STAR STAKES FOR CALIFORNIA-BREDS GOING ABOUT 6 ½ FURLONGS ON THE HILLSIDE TURF COURSE SUNDAY AT SANTA ANITA __

ARCADIA, CA (March 22, 2026)—Flyover jetted out of the gate under Antonio Fresu and found no turbulence on his way to a front-running victory in the $100,000 Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds going about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course Sunday at Santa Anita.

Trained by John Sadler, Flyover scored by a comfortable 3 ¼ lengths to earn his first stakes victory. On the Whim (5-1), who had to check behind horses multiple times descending the hill, rallied from last to finish second under Tiago Pereira. Man O Rose, the heavy 2-5 favorite, chased the winner in second to no avail before being passed by On The Whim late.

Flyover won in a time of 1:12.12 after setting a pace of 21.92, 43.45 and 1:05.65.

“Today, I was lucky. In a small field like this nobody really put pressure on me, so I managed to go a little slower than he is used to going down the hill,” Fresu said. “I think that made a huge difference because he saved his kick for the end. When I asked him, crossing the dirt, he picked it up and was able to keep it going all the way. It was hard for Man O Rose to come and catch me.”

A 5-year-old horse by Om, Flyover had been racing in open company prior to the Sensational Star. Most recently, he set the pace in the Clockers’ Corner going six furlongs on the flat course before weakening to fifth on Feb. 8. Prior to that effort, he attended the pace in the GII Joe Hernandez on the hillside course and flattened out in the stretch to finish eighth.

“He’s been running in open company, obviously, and today he really showed up and he ran a really good race,” said Juan Leyva, Sadler’s assistant.

“I think the key was Antonio just used the horse’s natural speed instead of sending him out of there. He just let him take him there and the horse was just really enjoying his time. I mean he was never pressured and he wasn’t fighting him. He just let him be happy on the lead.”

Flyover is owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, ITR LLC, The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth A. Tevelde. He improved to 10: 5-0-0 with nearly $290,000 in earnings.

Flyover paid $14.20, $5.60 and $2.20. On the Whim, trained by Dean Pederson, returned $4.60 and $2.40. Man O Rose, with Edwin Maldonado up for trainer Jeff Mullins, paid $2.10.

Live racing resumes Friday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 1 p.m. PT.

SENSATIONAL STAR STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

ANTONIO FRESU, FLYOVER, WINNER: “I was surprised that nobody else came with us. He got the lead pretty easy. I thank John Sadler for the opportunity to get back on him. He’s always been very sharp from the gate and John does an amazing job with him because he is a tough horse. John and his team, they know and they do a good job.

“Today, I was lucky. In a small field like this nobody really put pressure on me, so I managed to go a little slower than he is used to doing down the hill. I think that made a huge difference because he saved his kick for the end. When I asked him, crossing the dirt, he picked up and was able to keep it all the way. It was hard for Man O Rose to come and catch me.

“Man O Rose is one of the best Cal-breds and had proved himself even with open company. I thought today it was going to be really hard to beat him. But the only probable way was to do it was the way we did, with the lead.

“When he broke so well, I didn’t send him I just tried to be chill on him and he was enjoying himself out there. Nobody was putting pressure or anything, so the horse was very comfortable.”

TRAINER QUOTES

JUAN LEYVA, ASSISTANT TO JOHN SADLER, FLYOVER, WINNER: “I think the key was Antonio just used the horse’s natural speed instead of sending him out of there. He just let him take him and the horse was just really enjoying his time out there. I mean he was never pressured and he wasn’t fighting him. He just let him be happy on the lead. “He’s been running in open company, obviously, and today he really showed up and he ran a really good race.”

OWNER QUOTES

MIMI JOHNSTON, PART-OWNER/BREEDER OLD ENGLISH RANCHO, FLYOVER, WINNER: “We beat Man O Rose!” “I’m so grateful and thankful that we still have horses like Flyover in training and for the trainers that we have. It is just wonderful.”

NOTES: The winning owners are Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, LLC, ITR LLC, The Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth A. Tevelde.