john sadler | Horse Racing Free Tips

Edgeway Earns Initial Stakes Victory In Oaklawn’s Carousel

Prominent from the outset, Hronis Racing LLC's Edgeway got the jump on even-money favorite Frank's Rockette and cruised to victory in Saturday's $250,000 Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Ark., giving the daughter of Competitive Edge her first triumph in a black type race.

Trained by John Sadler and ridden by Joel Rosario, Edgeway ran the six furlongs on a fast main track in 1:10.13 and paid $4.60 as the second wagering choice in the field of six fillies and mare, aged 4 and up.

Frank's Rockette closed to within three-quarters of a length of Edgeway at the wire to be second, with Casual another 1 1/4 lengths back third and Wildwood's Beauty fourth.

Edgeway, third to Kimari in just her second career start in the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn last year, was coming off a Feb. 7 allowance win at Santa Anita, her first start since a runner-up performance in the Grade 3 Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs last June. She trained up to the Carousel at Santa Anita.

Mucho Amor jumped out to an early lead, with Edgeway to her outside, but that pair was quickly joined by Wildwood's Beauty who rushed up along the inside to put her nose in front. Those three raced as a team, with Edgeway three wide around the turn and Frank's Rockette track her while a couple of lengths further back. Early fractions were :22.54 for the opening quarter mile and :46.12 for the half.

Edgeway took command in the stretch, passing the furlong marker in :58.08 and sailed on to victory, her fourth in six starts.

Produced from Magical Solution, by Stormin Fever, Edgeway is a 4-year-old bred in Kentucky by Pope McLean, Valerie and David Blethen. She sold for $275,000 at the OBS April Sale of 2-year-olds in training in 2019, where she was consigned by Mayberry Farm.

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Sadler To Keep Rock Your World In California To Train Up To Kentucky Derby

Rock Your World was on the wash rack at 7:30 Easter morning cleaning up as readily as he dusted off eight rivals in Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby in Arcadia, Calif., earning him a place on racing's biggest stage, the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

Trained by John Sadler for owners Kosta and Peter Hronis and Talla Racing, and bred by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife, Debbie, Rock Your World went to the front and never looked back, winning by 4 ¼ lengths, giving two-time Italian riding champion Umberto Rispoli his first Grade 1 victory in the United States.

Rock Your World, a son of Candy Ride out of the Empire Maker mare Charm the Maker, earned 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points with the victory and will attempt to become the 20th horse to run in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and go on to capture the Kentucky Derby.

“We're still enjoying this win,” Sadler said. “This is Easter Sunday, so Monday we'll look at the calendar (for an itinerary), but he would have a traditional California pattern where we'll train here and go to Kentucky the week of the race.”

It was Rock Your World's first race on dirt after two victories on turf, but Sadler always seemed confident the colt would make a successful transition to the main track.

“You're hoping, but it's one of those things, you don't know until you do it,” said Sadler, who is seeking his first victory in the Run for the Roses. “We're thrilled the way things worked out.

“I've never won the Derby, but last time I was there (at Churchill Downs) we won the Breeders' Cup Classic (in 2018 with Accelerate), so I'm looking forward to going back to Louisville.

“We've run four horses in the Kentucky Derby before but haven't won.

“Umberto has been a great addition to our jockey colony … I was kind of shocked hearing this was his first Grade 1 win here. He did so well last year I thought he would have picked up one already. He's a good kid, very competitive.”

Ditto for Rock Your World.

Baffert on runner-up Medina Spirit: 'Four weeks to sharpen him up'
Medina Spirit, a game second as the 9-10 favorite behind Rock Your World in Saturday's Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., came out of the race in good order and will attempt to give Bob Baffert his seventh victory in the world's most famous race on May 1.

“He ran a game race like he always does,” Baffert said of the $35,000 bargain son of Protonico. “The winner was very impressive, but our horse showed up, he ran his race, he came out of it well and we've got four weeks to sharpen him up.

“He'll be right there. He's always going to be tough; he tries hard all the time.”

Baffert also sent out maiden sprint winner Defunded in the race and the gelded son of Dialed In rallied to finish fourth.

“He got real tired towards the end,” Baffert said. “He wasn't ready for something like that but we had to take a chance at it. I don't know where I'll run him next.”

Meanwhile, Baffert has Rebel winner Concert Tour and runner-up Hozier set for this Saturday's Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

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With Limited Fans Back On Track, Santa Anita Records Best Derby Day Handle Since 2007

With fans returning on a restricted basis this weekend for the first time in over a year, 8,246 on-track attendees at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., witnessed a tremendous day of racing on Saturday, as the 84th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby highlighted a 12-race program that produced all-sources pari-mutuel handle of $24,282,400 — the largest Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Day handle since 2007.

The Runhappy Derby, which was carded as Saturday's eighth race, was taken by Hronis Racing and Talla Racing's Rock Your World, who was making only his third start and his first on dirt. Trained by John Sadler and ridden in gate to wire fashion by Umberto Rispoli, the 3-year-old colt by Candy Ride powered to a 4 ¼-length victory over Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit and paid $12.40 to win.

Bred in Kentucky by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Debbie, Rock Your World picked up 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and will thus try to become the 19th horse to exit the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby and go on to win the Run for the Roses on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

The Grade 2, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, carded as race six, went to the Richard Mandella-trained Soothsay, who made a bold move heading into the far turn under Flavien Prat and prevailed by a half length over Baffert's Beautiful Gift. Owned by Claiborne Farm, Perry Bass II, Ramona Bass and Adele Dilschneider, Soothsay paid $10.40 to win and she collected 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points, which puts her in the gate for the “Filly Derby” on April 30 at Churchill Downs.

While Sadler collected his second Runhappy Santa Anita Derby victory, Mandella won the Santa Anita Oaks for the fourth time in his Hall of Fame career.

With three wins, two of them in stakes, Phil D'Amato moved to the top of the trainer standings as he leads Baffert by a 29-28 margin.

Riding sensation Flavien Prat bagged four wins on the afternoon, all of them in stakes, and he opened up an incredible 30-win advantage over Juan Hernandez in the jockey standings, 80-50, through 45 racing days.

First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 1 p.m. With no walk-up admission, fans are encouraged to visit santaanita.com/open, to purchase reserved seating. Santa Anita continues to offer all of its races free of charge at santaanita.com/live.

For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

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Runhappy Santa Anita Derby Card Produces High Handle Number

The card for the 84th GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby produced all-sources pari-mutuel handle of $24,282,400 Saturday. This was the largest Santa Anita Derby day handle since 2007. In addition, fans returned to the Arcadia oval on a restricted basis, with 8,246 on-track for the 12-race program. It was the first time in over a year that fans were allowed back at Santa Anita since the COVID-19 pandemic began last winter.

Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) saluted in the day's feature event, the GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby for Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. Soothsay (Distorted Humor) gave trainer Richard Mandella his fourth GII Santa Anita Oaks for Claiborne Farm, Perry Bass II, Ramona Bass and Adele Dilschneider. Trainer Phil D'Amato leads in the trainers' standings with 29, one better than Bob Baffert. Flavien Prat holds a sizeable advantage in the jockeys' equivalent with 80 wins to 50 for Juan Hernandez.

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