Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: Sadler’s ‘one to watch’ delivers

While it took Accelerate until his 5-year-old season to do his best running, perhaps Nolo Conesto, the latest winner out of trainer John Sadler’s barn, can peak early enough to make an impact on the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail.

The gritty Friday maiden winner at Santa Anita Park delivered in his second start, out-dueling Omaha Beach by a half length. It was another eight lengths back to the third-place finisher in a field of 10.

In an interview last month after Nolo Contesto’s debut, Sadler told us the Pioneerof the Nile ridgling was “the one to watch” among his then-2-year-olds. Jockey Joel Rosario lost an iron early in a six-furlong race on Dec. 1, and his mount finished fifth in the maiden flight won by Kingly, Mohaymen’s full brother.

“He finished out well — galloped out in front,” Sadler said of Nolo Contesto. “It was kind of a schooling type of race the way it came out. Watch out for him when he runs a mile next time.”

We did. Friday’s final time was 1:37.49 for the eight furlongs.

Nolo Contesto won despite being floated five wide into the first turn, then asked by Rosario up the back stretch to gain position. Running wide through the far turn as well, he ranged outside of Richard Mandella-trained Omaha Beach to up stretch showdown.

Nolo Contest edged ahead at the wire and, again, galloped out in front.

The $385,000 purchase is campaigned by Hronis Racing, Sadler’s principal client, and is out of the Congrats mare Applauding. She won three of four starts to open her career and was pointing toward route races on the Kentucky Oaks trail in 2012 before retired.

With Nolo Contesto thought by connections to be better around two turns, the Grade 3, $150,000 Robert B. Lewis — a points-paying Derby prep — would make sense next. It runs Feb. 2 at Santa Anita.

Sadler has started four horses in the Derby, most recently Candy Boy, the 13th-place finisher in 2014.