Sadler Sees Bright Future for Demonic
Demonic was no secret when he made his debut. Sent off as the even-money favorite in his first start nearly a year ago, Demonic rallied wide under Garrett Gomez to win by a head in a seven-furlong maiden allowance race.
Absent for almost a year since then, the bay colt made his second start on Dec. 1, running an eventful fifth at Betfair Hollywood Park going 6 ½ furlongs on Cushion Track.
“He’s a very good horse,” Sadler said of the $400,000 son of Bernardini owned by the CRK Stable of Lee and Susan Searing. “He didn’t get around the turn very well at Hollywood. He was going so fast, he kind of skidded out about 10 wide, and got beat three lengths (actually, 2 ½).
“I think eventually he’s going to be way better around two turns. Our next major goal is the Strub (Grade II, $200,000 at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 18), but he’s a good horse.”
Sadler also has Horizontalyspeakin entered in the Grade II, $200,000 Sir Beaufort Stakes at one mile on turf opening day, but the trainer will peruse the pace scenario.
”He’s a good horse on the lead, so we’re looking to see if there’s much speed in the race,” Sadler said. A 3-year-old Maryland-bred gelding sired by Medalist, Horizontalyspeakin’s two wins have come from gate to wire. He would be making his first stakes start in the Sir Beaufort
The field for the Malibu, the eighth of nine races: Syndicated, Victor Espinoza, 30-1; Shakin It Up, David Flores, 15-1; Heir of Storm, Gary Stevens, 6-1; Flashback, Joel Rosario, 7-2; Zeewat, Rafael Bejarano, 9-2; Demonic, Corey Nakatani, 12-1; Central Banker, Joe Talamo, 6-1; Holy Lute, Mike Smith, 12-1; Zee Bros, Martin Garcia, 10-1; Bakken, Javier Castellano, 6-1; Distinctiv Passion, Edwin Maldonado, 6-1; and Our Double Play, Fernando Torres, 15-1.
The field for the Sir Beaufort, which goes as race seven: Outside Nashville, Martin Pedroza, 20-1; Tiz a Minister, Martin Garcia, 6-1; Educated Guess, Agapito Delgadillo, 15-1; Dice Flavor, Jose Valdivia Jr., 12-1; Horizontalyspeakin, Edwin Maldonado, 8-1; Gervinho, Rafael Bejarano, 7-2; Procurement, Joe Talamo, 6-1; No Jet Lag, Joel Rosario, 5-2; Tom’s Tribute, Mike Smith, 3-1; and Si Sage, Kayla Stra, 20-1.