Sadler hopes Stellar Wind can end his Breeders' Cup drought

For the Chicago Cubs and John Sadler, the long drought could soon be over.

The Cubs are one win away from appearing in their first World Series in 71 years. All they have to do is get past Clayton Kerhsaw and the Dodgers tomorrow, or, failing that, win game seven of their National League Championship Series in the Windy City on Sunday to advance to the World Series against the Cleveland Indians.

On Nov. 4, Sadler hopes to win his first Breeders’ Cup race in the $2 million Longines Distaff with Stellar Wind, ending a string of 37 losses in the World Championship events.

Stellar Wind worked five furlongs early Friday morning in 1:00.40 under exercise rider Jose Contreras. Stablemate Hard Aces, ticketed for the Marathon on Nov. 4, went in 1:01.

“I was real happy with her breeze this morning,” Sadler said of the 2015 Eclipse Award champion as outstanding three-year-old filly. “She broke three (lengths) behind Hard Aces, was outside him all the way and a half-length in front at the wire. She’ll have one more breeze before the Distaff, next Friday. It was a very nice work, her usual work, no deviations from what we’ve been doing with her previously. She looked good doing it, so we’re happy.”

Stellar Wind had fractional times of 25.20, 37.40 and 48.80, with a six furlong gallop out of 1:13.20.

Now four, the daughter of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin was a troubled second by a neck in last year’s Distaff at Keeneland, a race in which Sadler feels she could have been promoted to first, had the racing gods smiled upon her. She was “bumped and floated out.”

As it is, Stellar Wind enters the Distaff with two successive hard-earned wins over three-time champion Beholder, who, along with undefeated champion Songbird, is likely to ensure a solid pace in the 1 1/8-mile race.

“Her last few races have been in small fields where we can’t let the front-runner, one that good, out of sight,” Sadler said in explaining why Stellar Wind had to alter strategy in order to conquer Beholder. “I think Victor (Espinoza, her regular rider) recognized that so we’ve kind of had to change her style, and it’s worked. Under those circumstances, that was the plan.

“We’ve had a lot of placings (in Breeders’ Cup races), second, second, third, third, but it’s not a sensitive issue. Last year, c’mon, we were supposed to get put up.

“I feel like we won it last year.”

In other Breeders’ Cup news:

Sprint favorite Masochistic worked six furlongs for Ron Ellis in a bullet 1:11.60, fastest of 21 drills at the distance, the average time of which was 1:14.96. All Run (Sprint) went four furlongs for Richard Baltas in 50.20.

Masochistic was given fractional times of 35.40, 47 flat and 59.40 by Santa Anita clocker Dane Nelson, with a seven furlong gallop out of 1:24.60.

“It was at least as good as any of his works ever,” said Ellis, who plans one more breeze for the six-year-old California-bred gelding by Sought After, that coming next Saturday.

Lady Shipman (Turf Sprint) worked four furlongs under Mike Smith for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in 48.40, getting the last quarter in 24.40.

What a View (Mile) worked six furlongs in company in 1:13 flat with Tyler Baze aboard for trainer Kenny Black. Stablemate King’s Palace went in 1:15.80.

Champagne Room (Juvenile Fillies) worked six furlongs in 1:12.40 for trainer Peter Eurton.

Zuma Beach Stakes winner Big Score (Juvenile Turf) worked four furlongs for Tim Yakteen in 50.40, while stablemate Thorn Legacy was clocked in 51 flat.

Source: Santa Anita Park