Santa Anita Stable Notes Friday, March 28, 2025

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025

- • SADLER HAS FULL STAKES PLATE THIS WEEKEND - • WORKS: CAVALIERI, SUPA SPEED, ARTISLAS LEAD TAB - • PICK 6 CARRYOVER OF $71K FRIDAY FOR 9-RACE CARD - • FRIDAY’S $2 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 1:47 P.M. PT

SADLER HAS FULL STAKES PLATE THIS WEEKEND AT SANTA ANITA

Trainer John Sadler will have runners in all three stakes this weekend at Santa Anita starting Saturday with the GIII San Carlos and GIII Wilshire.

In the San Carlos going seven furlongs on dirt, Sadler will be represented by For All Mankind, the 7-2 third choice on the morning line. In the Wilshire for fillies and mares at a mile on turf, he’ll saddle Alpha Bella, who is the 2-1 second choice on the morning line. Then on Sunday, in the Sensational Star for California-breds sprinting about 6 ½ furlongs on the hillside turf course, Sadler has expected favorite Kings River Knight.

For All Mankind is seeking his first stakes win in the San Carlos. A 6-year-old gelding by Into Mischief, For All Mankind exits a solid second-place finish in the GIII Palos Verdes going six furlongs Feb. 15 at Santa Anita. He finished four lengths back of winner Roll On Big Joe, who was not entered back in the San Carlos.

“I think the extra furlong will be fine for him,” Sadler said. “He didn’t have an excuse the other day, the other horse was just better. But I thought he ran a good second and has continued to train well. He’s deserving of another chance.”

For All Mankind will break from post four under Antonio Fresu, who was also aboard in the Palos Verdes.

The San Carlos goes as the third race Saturday on a 10-race card. Post time is approximately 2 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Pilot Commander (3-5); Fort Bragg, Kazushi Kimura (3-1); Spirit of Makena, Kyle Frey (10-1); For All Mankind, Antonio Fresu (7-2); Vlahos, Edwin Maldonado (12-1).

Alpha Bella returns to turf in the Wilshire after exclusively running in graded stakes on dirt since being transferred to Sadler last summer. While based in the east with trainer Todd Pletcher, she was a Grade III winner on grass when trained by Todd Pletcher. Since joining the Sadler barn, Alpha Bella was second in three straight graded stakes on dirt before a fifth-place finish in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile on dirt March 8 at Santa Anita.

“Obviously she was a stakes winner on grass before,” Sadler said. “She had been running very well on dirt but then got a bad trip in the Beholder Mile, so we thought this would be a good chance to go ahead and get back on the turf.”

Alpha Bella, who is campaigned by breeder Don Alberto Stable, will have Santa Anita leading rider Juan Hernandez aboard for the first time.

The Wilshire goes as the eighth race at approximately 4:43 p.m. The field in post position order: Tirupati, Umberto Rispoli (7-5); Tahini, Mike Smith (15-1); Alpha Bella, Juan Hernandez (2-1); Desert Rhapsody, Kyle Frey (20-1); Uncorked, Antonio Fresu, 5-2); Sophisticate, Hector Berrios (12-1); Big Hug, Armando Ayuso (30-1).

Kings River Knight will be making his first start in 10 months in the Sensational Star. Prior to the layoff, he dominated the California-bred turf division. In 2023 and 2024, Kings River Knight racked up six stakes wins against statebreds.

“We’re really excited to have him back,” Sadler said. “He’s won so many races for us.” Kings River Knight has a win and a second in two starts on the hillside turf course, both statebred stakes. In the 2023 Sensational Star, he finished just a nose back of two-time California-bred Horse of the Year The Chosen Vron. Then last year, Kings River Knight won the California Flag Handicap sprinting down the hill. Kings River Knight is a 7-year-old gelding by Acclamation. Sadler noted his lengthy layoff was by design.

“He’s a gelding and we thought we’d give him some time off so we could have another good long run with him,” Sadler said. “He can run this year and next year and then will get a nice retirement after that.”

Kings River Knight will also have Hernandez in the irons. “He’s coming back very well,” Sadler said. “The only downside is he drew the one, which can be a tough post. But it shouldn’t be a game changer.”

The Sensational Star goes as the eighth race on a 10-race card Sunday. The field in post position order: Kings River Knight, Juan Hernandez; Lovesick Blues, Geovanni Franco; Clovisconnection, William Antongeorgi III; Book Smart, Mike Smith; Tom Horn, Flavien Prat; Fast Buck, Umberto Rispoli; On the Whim, Tiago Pereira.

WORKS: CAVALIERI, SUPA SPEED, ARTISLAS LEAD TAB

Unbeaten Grade I winner Cavalieri, GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks candidate Supa Speed and multiple stakes winners Artislas and Air Force Red led Friday’s work tab at Santa Anita.

Cavalieri worked for the first time since winning the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile March 8 at Santa Anita. Trained by Bob Baffert, Cavalieri drilled four furlongs in 48.40 seconds. Cavalieri, a 4-year-old Nyquist filly, improved to 4-for-4 with the Beholder Mile. She previously won the GIII La Canada when making her stakes debut Jan. 19 at Santa Anita.

Supa Speed, trained by John Sadler, worked five furlongs in 1:00.00. It was the second-fastest of 18 works at the distance. By Justify, Supa Speed most recently was beaten a nose by Maysam in the GIII Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel going 1 1/16 miles March 2 at Santa Anita. It was her first time racing on dirt after five turf starts.

Artislas, a multiple stakes winner on turf who typically works on the synthetic training track, had Friday’s drill on the main track. The 3-year-old Catalina Cruiser colt drilled five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Jeff Mullins. Artislas most recently won the Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on turf Dec. 29 at Santa Anita. He also won last year’s GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

Air Force Red most recently earned his second graded stakes win in the GIII San Simeon sprinting on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course March 8. He returned to the tab with a four-furlong work on the training track in 50.00 seconds.

PICK 6 CARRYOVER OF 71K FRIDAY FOR 9-RACE CARD

There is a $2 Pick Six carryover of $71,789 for Friday’s nine-race card at Santa Anita. The total pool is estimated to exceed $500,000.

With first post Friday at 1 p.m. PT, the Pick Six begins with the fourth race at approximately 2:35 p.m. The challenging sequence averages 8.0 starters per race after scratches.

The carryover comes after there were no tickets will six winners on Sunday. The consolation payout for tickets with 5-of-6 winners was $517.40. The winning horses in Sunday’s Pick Six beginning with the fourth race were #6 Wegonahavagoodtime ($4), #3 King of Clubs ($2.80), #1 Spun Not Stirred ($12.20), #8 Win and a Grin ($93), #5 Big Pop ($6.60) and #5 Simplexity ($13.80).

FINISH LINES: Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:47 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park…Nominations close Friday for next weekend’s GI Santa Anita Derby, GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks, GIII Monrovia Stakes, Echo Eddie Stakes and Evening Jewel Stakes on Saturday and John Shear Stakes on Sunday…Horseplayer Tony Banks will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 11:50 a.m. PT.