Sadler, Home Sweet Aspen make travel plans

Home Sweet Aspen goes from a Grade I victory to a Grade III race when she runs in Sunday’s Las Flores Stakes for older fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs, but it’s not because the daughter of Candy Ride has lost her form or her class.

John Sadler has long-range goals for the 4-year-old filly, who captured the Grade I Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs last out on Jan. 28.

“This is what our home program is for filly and mare sprints,” the trainer said, referring to the Grade III Las Flores. “So we’ll run here and she’ll probably go out of town after that. It’s dumb to go out (of town) too early because the weather’s too bad.

“She might go to Churchill in May or Keeneland in April, but for right now in March, she’s going to run right here in her own back yard.”

The field for the Las Flores: She’s Cheeky, Joe Talamo, 9-2; Izzy Rules, Edwin Maldonado, 2-1; Veloce Canzone, Frederic Lenclud, 8-1; Home Sweet Aspen, Joel Rosario, 5-2; Great Hot, Mike Smith, 3-1; and Spectacular Sky, Rafael Bejarano, 9-2.