Santa Anita news: Sadler eyes Sprint Championship upset

John Sadler has 40 percent of the five horses entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a "Win and You're In" race toward the Breeders' Cup, but the trainer recognizes the six-furlong race is not a walk in the park.

“Both horses have good form,” Sadler said of Edwards Going Left and recent $40,000 claim Horse Greedy, both owned by principal client Hronis Racing. “Edwards Going Left was kind of unlucky last time (losing by a neck in the restricted E.B. Johnston Stakes going a mile at Los Alamitos Sept. 8).

“He was much the best and got beat two heads, and he’s good on this track (five wins, a second and a third in nine starts at Santa Anita). Horse Greedy won his last start and was a good third in the Grade 2 San Carlos before that.

“It’s a tough race, probably the best (Breeders’ Cup Sprint) prep, but we’re going to be in there trying and we’ll see what happens.”

The field for the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, race five of 11: Horse Greedy, Stewart Elliott, 8-1; Roy H, Paco Lopez, 6-5; Distinctiv B, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; Edwards Going Left, Tyler Baze, 9-2; and Ransom the Moon, Flavien Prat, 7-5.  

GLATT SEEKS BETTER LUCK FOR ‘WIN MACHINE’   

With seven victories from 13 starts, Sharp Samurai assuredly knows where the winner’s circle is, although his chances were compromised by a troubled trip when third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last out on Aug. 19.

Trainer Mark Glatt hopes for better luck in Saturday’s grassy Grade 2 City of Hope Mile.

“We think he’s doing well going in and we’ll see how he does for us,” said Glatt, who has a share of the ownership with Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal. “It looked like his last race was going to come down to him and Catapult (who won the Del Mar Mile Handicap), but unfortunately, Gary (Stevens) had to take up.

“It was disappointing that we didn’t get a fair chance to win the race, but we’ll see what happens on Saturday.”

The City of Hope, race nine: Double Touch, Alonso Quinonez, 6-1; White Flag, Kent Desormeaux, 5-1; Le Ken, Tyler Baze, 20-1; Flamboyant, Rafael Bejarano, 8-1; Ohio, Drayden Van Dyke, 8-1; $4,000 supplemental nominee Pyscho Sister, Edwin Maldonado, 20-1; Mithqaal, Paco Lopez, 12-1; Sharp Samurai, Gary Stevens, 2-1; and Fly to Mars, Flavien Prat, 5-2.  

OWNING DOING WELL FOR ‘WIN AND YOU’RE IN’ SPEAKEASY

Owning shortens up to five furlongs on turf for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Speakeasy Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on turf.

The gray son of Flashback trained by Simon Callaghan for Reddam Racing was seventh after a slow start in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf at a mile on grass.

“He’s training well and I think he’ll like the return to a sprint,” Callaghan said. “He’s got a good post and I’d say it’s an open race.”

The field for the $100,000 Speakeasy, race four: Its Gonna Hurt, Tiago Pereira, 5-1; Whooping Jay, Evin Roman, 8-1; Mae Never No, Gary Stevens, 2-1; Midnight Mystery, Drayden Van Dyke, 4-1; Hartel, Flavien Prat, 5-2; Principe Carlo, Ruben Fuentes, 20-1; and Owning, Joe Talamo, 5-1.