Can Runflatout end Sadler's stakes slide?

It has not reached a crisis point, but trainer John Sadler is winless with his last 19 starters in stakes, dating back to Cozi Rosie’s victory in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Handicap at Santa Anita in February.

In the nearly three months since that race, Sadler has had nine second-place finishes in stakes in California, Arkansas, and Texas, and three third-place finishes in California and Kentucky. Last weekend at Hollywood Park, Sadler’s Sidney’s Candy was second in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap and Cost of Freedom was the runner-up in the Cool Frenchy Stakes.

“I can’t beat the handicapper,” Sadler said. “How many pounds did I give away?”