Sadler Is Off to a Hot Start

After finding winners hard to come by for several months, trainer John Sadler has been hot the first two weeks of the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita.

Through the first 11 days of the meet, Sadler had won with seven of 21 starters, leaving him tied with Jeff Mullins atop the standings.

Sadler’s best chance to add to his win total today comes in the seventh race when he’ll saddle Selvatica in the $46,000 allowance for older fillies and mares at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the turf.

A 4-year-old daughter of Forestry owned and bred by Granja Vista Del Rio, Selvatica has not finished lower than second in five starts, winning twice.

In her most recent appearance, Selvatica went wire-to-wire at Del Mar, winning by three lengths as the 3-2 favorite on Aug. 31. Among her opponents that afternoon was Tialinga, who returned to win a minor stakes at Fairplex.

Garrett Gomez will ride Selvatica, who will be making her first start on the turf.

Completing the field are Ninadivina, Thunder’s Echo, Royal Wave, Private Banking and Fire Bolt.

Race of the day: Drum Major, who has won three of four on the grass, will face eight other 3-year-olds in the $150,000 Bryan Station at one mile at Keeneland. Jose Santos will ride the son of Dynaformer for Dogwood Stable and trainer George Weaver against T.D. Vance, who won the Hall of Fame at 16-1 on Aug. 8 at Saratoga. Broadway Idol, Classic Campaign, who won his only previous start over the Keeneland turf, Take A Shot, Rey de Cafe, Fishy Advice, Therecomesatiger and Bastille complete the field.

One for the road: Jaguar City looks like the controlling speed in today’s third at Keeneland and can lead throughout in the $56,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles. James Graham will ride the 5-year-old Slew City Slew mare for Jaguar on the Run Stable and trainer Frank Springer. Jaguar City has won three in a row at Arlington Park and is eight for 17 in her career.

Exotically speaking: A pick three using Tiz Primetime, Wildberry Road and Magdaleno in the sixth, Selvatica, Fire Bolt and Private Banking in the seventh and Lake Of Gold in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/35. Money: Previous day/meet total: $12/$195.60. Total money bet: $208.