Busy Weekend for Sadler

Trainer John Sadler finalized work in his stable office at Hollywood Park Thursday morning before catching a flight to New York City.

Sadler entered horses in two stakes here this weekend as well as two at Belmont Park Saturday.

Sadler entered Dave In Dixie in the Belmont Stakes and Crisp in the Acorn Stakes after shipping the pair east on Tuesday. He also entered Cost of Freedom in the Los Angeles Handicap Saturday and Switch in the Hollywood Oaks Sunday.

Sadler smiled about drawing the rail in a field of 12 in the Belmont with jockey Calvin Borel. “Drawing number one is perfect with Bo-Rail,” quipped Sadler. “That’s where he’s going to be anyway.”

Sadler also was happy with Crisp drawing outside in a 13-horse field in the Acorn. “If you draw 13 at a mile in California, you slit your wrists,” said Sadler. “But at Belmont, it’s a one-turn mile. She will have plenty of time to get position and drop over.”

Unbeaten Railbird Stakes winner Tanda and third-place Hollywood Starlet finisher Amen Hallelujah also have Hollywood Park ties in the lineup.

Sadler expressed optimism about California shippers in the race on the strength of  the showings of Blind Luck and Evening Jewel in major eastern stakes.

Sadler thinks Cost of Freedom is the horse to beat in the Grade III Los Angeles at six furlongs on Cushion Track. “I think he’s 6-5,” predicted Sadler of the odds. “He won a very fast race over this course. And he’s won with weight before.”

Cost of Freedom, a 7-year-old California-bred gelding, seeks to become the oldest horse to win the race since Kona Gold at 8 in 2002. He leaves from post three in a field of eight with regular rider Tyler Baze under high weight of 122 pounds.

Cost of Freedom, who won the 2008 Grade I Ancient Title Stakes at Santa Anita under 124, comes off a sizzling 4 ½-length allowance/optional claiming score in 1:08.36 here May 6.

Sadler, tied with Buster Millerick for most wins in the race with four, seeks undisputed leadership. Top competition is expected from M One Rifle, who leaves from the outside for trainer Bruce Headley, a three-time winner.

Sadler concedes that Switch will need her best race for a chance to upset Blind Luck in the Oaks. “We were close to Blind Luck the last time we met,” said Sadler of a third-place finish in the Las Virgenes Stakes, a half-length behind winner Blind Luck.

“But Blind Luck should be pretty prohibitive.”