ARCADIA, Calif. – The hottest trainer in California presses the accelerator Friday at Santa Anita.
John Sadler has nine wins and eight seconds from his last 23 starters, and closing week at Santa Anita is no time to let up. Sadler entered five runners Friday including well-bred Eagles Flight, who is seeking a return to form in an allowance sprint that is the featured eighth race.
Eagles Flight is a question mark shortening up after a distant third as the odds-on favorite in a route.
“I don’t have any real big alibi,” Sadler admitted. “It was just a head-scratcher. He came back and trained extremely well.”
A sibling to Flightline, the 2022 Horse of the Year, Eagles Flight faces a field that includes Grade 1-placed comebacker Hejazi. Others in the 6 1/2-furlong race include the sharp Mbagnick and upset candidates Vlahos and Traegar.
Based on fast recent works, Eagles Flight is likely to improve shortening up and moving from wet to fast. Whether he improves enough to defeat Mbagnick is uncertain. It’s a theme for Sadler on Friday, as none of his five runners stand out, but all are contenders.
In addition to Eagles Flight, Sadler entered claiming filly Kitty Kitana in race 1, debut 2-year-old Jetway in race 2, Cal-bred allowance filly Tight Squeeze in race 5, and older maiden-claiming first-time starter Say Never No More in race 9.
Eagles Flight, by Curlin, is sprinting for the first time since a decisive debut victory a year ago. He was sidelined from May until January and finished second in his route comeback. The next start by Eagles Flight, on March 8, was his best – a front-running romp in an entry-level allowance.
Then came the head-scratching third.
“We had that funny track where it rained for a couple hours,” Sadler said. “I hate to make the track an excuse. He’s trained really good.”
A return to a fast-track sprint could produce a return to form by Eagles Flight, who should be forwardly placed after recent bullet works that include five furlongs in 59.40 seconds and a 45.80 half-mile. Umberto Rispoli regains the mount on Eagles Flight, who is 2 for 4.
Hejazi is the most accomplished entrant and is returning from the longest layoff. Runner-up in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes in late 2023 at Santa Anita, Hejazi has not raced since January 2024. Bob Baffert trains Hejazi, whose rider is Juan Hernandez.
Mbagnick, a Group 1 winner in Chile before arriving in the U.S., finished a close third last out in a highly rated sprint that was his first start since trainer Jeff Mullins claimed him for $50,000. Mbagnick earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure finishing a half-length in front of Vlahos. If he runs two alike, Mbagnick could score his first win since December 2023.
Friday race-1 starter Kitty Kitana is Sadler’s weakest link. Last time out, Kitty Kitana finished last as the favorite in a similar non-winners of three claiming turf sprint. She runs back at the same level Friday.
In race 2 for maiden 2-year-olds, the Sadler-trained Jetway faces fast-working Acknowledgemeplz and Desert Gate. Sadler is using the race as a prep for Jetway.
“I haven’t hammered on him,” he said. “I want to get a start in before Del Mar.”
Doug O’Neill trains Acknowledgemeplz, a Bucchero colt working super for his debut. O’Neill has already won with two debut juveniles this meet. Baffert trains Desert Gate, an Omaha Beach colt likely to vie for favoritism. Desert Gate is Baffert’s first 2-year-old colt starter this year.
Race 5 Friday is a turf sprint for 3-year-old allowance fillies bred in California. Sadler-trained Tight Squeeze seeks redemption after finishing fourth as the favorite.
“She needs pace in front of her,” Sadler said. “The second time, it was a slow pace and she just flattened out.”
While the debut win by Tight Squeeze two starts back was strong, the debut win by Antonio Garcia-trained Hurricane Layla was stronger. She won a dirt sprint by more than four lengths. Though sired by I’ll Have Another, Hurricane Layla has turf influence in her female family.
Sadler’s final entrant Friday is race-9 first-time starter Say Never No More, a 4-year-old sprinting on turf for a $50,000 claiming tag. Say Never No More is well-meant, but comeback dropper Tees Touch is the one to beat.
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