Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Sadler ‘excited’ by Nolo Contesto
Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.
Trainer John Sadler took confidence into California’s biggest races last season with Accelerate. And it appears that attitude has carried over to Nolo Contesto, who shares connections with the recently retired champion.
Sadler, who consults Ragozin sheets for his speed figures, said this week he doesn’t need to see Nolo Contesto improve on the number he posted Jan. 4 when winning a maiden race at a mile at Santa Anita. Rather, heading into Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes, “He just can’t regress,” Sadler said.
“It’s all about the spacing and a natural progression. We’re pretty excited. He’s one of the faster horses around here already.”
[ Bet the Derby preps at NYRA Bets! ]
Sadler was high on the son of Pioneerof the Nile before he made it to the racetrack. The debut was a wash, however, considering jockey Joel Rosario lost an iron early on in a Dec. 1 sprint. Next out, Nolo Contesto out-dueled well-regarded Omaha Beach by a half length going a mile. It was another eight lengths back to third.
Purchased as a yearling for $385,000, Nolo Contesto runs in the familiar Hronis Racing colors. Sadler’s largest client won a number of top races for older horses last year with Accelerate, Catalina Cruiser and Gift Box.
Next up: the Derby trail, as Sadler attempts to keep “a diversified portfolio” of runners for Hronis Racing.
“We haven’t settled down,” Sadler said. “It’s too early to talk about that — making the Derby — but our belief is, we give him a chance to get there. If the horse takes you there, we want to do it. We’re not going to force anything.”
Sadler doesn't expect Nolo Contesto to carry distance limitations. On Saturday, he’ll be asked to go 1/16 of a mile farther than in his last race and against the Top 2 choices, both previous Grade 3 winners, in Mucho Gusto and Gunmetal Gray.
Mucho Gusto figures to want the early lead, whereas Gunmetal Gray closed from well back to win in his last start, the Sham Stakes (G3), also at Santa Anita Park.
“He might need some pace setup,” said Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains Gunmetal Gray. “At least that’s the way it worked out last time, but each race is different. The riders have to adjust as to how the pace is going.”
Sadler, Hollendorfer and Bob Baffert, who trains Mucho Gusto, each said this week they’re seeing their charges mature at the right time. While the Robert B. Lewis doesn’t include California’s leading Derby hopefuls in Game Winner and Improbable, Saturday’s winner is eligible to challenge them moving forward on the trail.
“He’s bigger and stronger and doing better as they need to be,” Hollendorfer said, “if they’re going to try to win some big races.”
Handicapping the preps
Free past performances are now available for all three of Saturday’s points-paying races:
Withers | Holy Bull | Robert B. Lewis
• Expert Holy Bull picks and predictions
• How to bet the Robert B. Lewis
• Steve Davidowitz’s Withers horses to bet
Derby links
• Extra Hope looks like one to watch in California after winning a mile allowance Thursday at Santa Anita — and doing so quite quickly. Check out the replay on our Derby Radar.
• Ron Flatter reflected in his latest Vegas Stats & Information Network column on the open-lengths debut win posted last weekend by Hidden Scroll. He prefaced it: “If you see a deconstruction coming, you know me well.”
• Daily Racing Form’s Byron King took a less explored angle to consider in Saturday’s trio of preps, the musical chairs that have led to some big-name riders switching mounts, particularly Javier Castellano and John Velazquez.
In case you missed it…
Thursday’s Derby Daily report featured Holy Bull contender Federal Case, who has for months had his connections thinking Derby.