Sadler Seeks Del Mar Success

Trainer John Sadler, who's been perhaps the hottest conditioner in Southern California for the past couple of years, will be vying for his third straight training title at Del Mar when the season opens Wednesday.

His 31 wins in both 2008 and 2009 were the most in a season since Bob Baffert registered 32 in 2000, the largest number of winners since the late Farrell Jones' 35 in 1963.

Hoping to get off to a fast start on the track's stakes program, Sadler, who finished fourth in the Hollywood Park standings, plans to run the undefeated Twirling Candy in the opening-day featured $100,000 Oceanside Stakes, Crisp and Switch, both graded stakes winners, in Sunday's Grade II, $150,000 San Clemente Handicap, and Cost of Freedom in the Grade I, $250,000 Bing Crosby Stakes on Sunday, August 1. In addition, Noble Court could show up in the Wickerr Stakes on Wednesday, July 28.
 
The mention that a threepeat by him would match the three straight victories by his speedy female sprinter Track Gal brought a broad smile to the trainer's face. Track Gal, winner of the Rancho Bernardo Handicap in 1995-97, is only one of three Del Mar runners to accomplish a threepeat, the others being Flawlessly in the Ramona Handicap (1992-94) and Native Diver in the San Diego Handicap (1963-65).

"We're hoping for a good start here, but every year is different," Sadler said with a chuckle.

Joel Rosario was a runaway victor in the jockeys' race with 56 victories to 32 for runner-up Tyler Baze. The previous year's winner, Rafael Bejarano, was injured in an opening-day spill and missed most of the 37-day meeting. So far this year, they have split the riding titles at the two Los Angeles-area tracks, Bejarano winning at Santa Anita and Rosario at Hollywood Park.

Rosario, who posted 79 wins at Hollywood Park, has eight mounts on opening day's 10-race card and Bejarano, who won on 75 mounts at Hollywood, has six rides listed.