STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2025

Photo: Richard Steele/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM

• ALPHA BELLA GOES IN BEHOLDER, EAGLES FLIGHT BACK FOR SADLER __• WORKS: GAMING DRILLS 6F ON SYNTHETIC TRAINING TRACK __ • JOURNALISM VAULTS TO NO. 2 IN NTRA TOP 3-YEAR-OLD POLL • FRIDAY’S $1 COAST-TO-COAST PICK 5 STARTS AT 1:38 P.M. PT

ALPHA BELLA IN GI BEHOLDER MILE, EAGLES FLIGHT BACK FOR SADLER

Things look to be picking up for the John Sadler barn after what’s been a relatively quiet Classic Meet.

This past Sunday, Supa Speed—twice stakes-placed on turf—nearly took down the GIII Fasig-Tipton Santa Ysabel for 3-year-old fillies when racing on dirt for the first time. The daughter of Justify was beaten just a nose by Maysam after a thrilling stretch duel.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Sadler has a pair of notable runners in Alpha Bella, who goes in the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile; and Eagles Flight, who makes his much-anticipated return in the 10th race four weeks after being scratched from a similar first-level allowance at a mile.

First updating Supa Speed, Sadler reported all was well with the filly following her near-miss in the Santa Ysabel.

“She came out good. We didn’t get the win, but she ran great. We were happy with it,” said Sadler, who this year is again a finalist for induction into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Supa Speed’s effort in the Santa Ysabel earned her 12 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks. Sadler said it’s possible she returns in the GII Fasig-Tipton Santa Anita Oaks Feb. 5 but “we’ll look at everything. I need to talk to the owners about what we want to do.”

Supa Speed is owned by Flying Dutchman Breeding and Racing LLC. In five previous starts, all on turf, Supa Speed was 5: 2-1-1 which includes board hits in both the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf in September and Blue Norther in December at Santa Anita.

For Sadler, the Santa Ysabel was his fourth straight runner-up finish in a graded stakes at the Classic Meet. Previously, For All Mankind finished second in the GII Palos Verdes Feb. 15, Alpha Bella was second in the GIII La Canada on Jan. 19 and Anywho was second in the GIII Las Cienegas, also on Jan. 19. With 65 starters at the stand, Sadler has won six races with 15 seconds and 13 thirds.

In Saturday’s Beholder Mile, Alpha Bella will be seeking a graded stakes breakthrough on dirt after three consecutive runner-up finishes. Prior to the La Canada, Alpha Bella was second in both the GIII Bayakoa in November at Del Mar and GII Zenyatta in September at Santa Anita.

A 5-year-old mare by Justify, Alpha Bella was initially entered in last Saturday’s GII Buena Vista on turf but was scratched in favor of the Beholder Mile. Alpha Bella was a graded-stakes winner on turf last year when trained by Todd Pletcher.

On Sunday, Alpha Bella signaled her readiness with a sharp four-furlong work in 47.0 seconds. It was the third-fastest of 69 works at the distance that day.

“She’s ready to go,” Sadler said. “All three of her seconds were nice races and it would obviously be nice to get a Grade I. Although it’s not a big field, there’s a lot of quality in it.”

Alpha Bella will break from the outside in post six under Hector Berrios. She is 6-1 on the morning line. The Beholder Mile goes as the eighth race at approximately 3:43 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Richi, Antonio Fresu (2-1); Hoosier Philly, Umberto Rispoli (8-1); Cavalieri, Juan Hernandez (9-5); Ultimate Authority, Ramon Vazquez (15-1); Tarifa, Mike Smith (3-1); Alpha Bella, Hector Berrios (6-1).

Eagles Flight was scratched on Feb. 2 due to a quarter crack. The 4-year-old colt by Curlin, who is a half brother to undefeated 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, has worked four times since including a bullet five-furlong move in 59.0 seconds on Feb. 24.

“It was just a routine quarter crack. We had to scratch, but he’s come back with four nice works. We’re looking forward to him running,” Sadler said.

Eagles Flight was a debut winner last May at Santa Anita. He resurfaced on Jan. 4 in a first-level allowance going a mile and finished second behind Mirahmadi, who returned to set the pace in last Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Handicap before fading to last.

Eagles Flight will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who was also aboard for his previous allowance try. He is tabbed as the 9-5 program favorite in a field of eight. Post time for the 10th race is set for 4:47 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Ghazaaly, Kyle Frey (12-1); Sketchy, Jose Valdivia Jr.. (20-1); Brazenly, Erik Garcia (30-1); Tranche, Geovanni Franco (5-1); Mystification, Juan Hernandez (9-2); None Above the Law, Tiago Pereira (5-1); Eagles Flight, Umberto Rispoli (9-5); Santarena, Antonio Fresu (3-1).

WORKS: GAMING DRILLS 6F ON SYNTHETIC TRAINING TRACK

With recent rain limiting training Friday on the main track to joggers only, Grade I winner Gaming took to the synthetic training track to post a six-furlong work ahead of an expected tilt in next weekend’s Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

Gaming was clocked going over the Tapeta in 1:12.60. Last Friday, Gaming worked six furlongs from the gate in a bullet 1:11.80 on the main track. Trained by Bob Baffert, Gaming exits an eighth-place finish in the GIII Southwest on Jan. 25 at Oaklawn Park.

Precision, who is entered in Sunday’s Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf, was clocked going a quarter mile on the training track in 24.60 seconds. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Precision is a European import for owner-breeder Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. In his U.S. debut on Dec. 29, the gelding by Expert Eye finished fifth at 4-1 in the Eddie Logan Stakes going a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

Artislas, winner of the Eddie Logan who was not entered in the Pasadena, worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds for trainer Jeff Mullins. It was his second work following a four-week gap on the tab. By Catalina Cruiser, Artislas last year also won the GIII Del Mar Juvenile Turf and was disqualified from victory in the GIII Zuma Beach at Santa Anita.

JOURNALISM VAULTS TO NO. 2 IN NTRA TOP 3-YEAR-OLD POLL

Following a scintillating win in last Saturday’s GII DK Horse San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita, Journalism vaulted to No. 2 in the weekly poll of the nation’s top 3-year-olds compiled by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism received nine first-place votes and 253 points overall to trail only top-ranked Citizen Bull, last year’s champion 2-year-old trained by Bob Baffert who is also based at Santa Anita. Making his 3-year-old debut in the San Felipe, Journalism rolled to a 1 ¾ length victory over runner-up Barnes. The effort earned a lofty 108 Beyer Speed Figure, which is tied for the highest posted by 3-year-old this season.

Barnes, also trained by Baffert, slipped to No. 5 in the rankings after suffering his first defeat. He previously was ranked second.

In the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, which accounts for all divisions, 4-year-old Locked jumped to No. 2 in the rankings following his smashing victory in Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Handicap. Locked received seven first-place votes and 241 points to trail only White Abarrio, winner of the GI Pegasus World Cup in January. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Locked won the Big ‘Cap by a record 8 ½ lengths. The effort earned a 109 Beyer Speed, which matches White Abarrio’s Pegasus win as the highest-recorded this year.

FINISH LINES: There is a $1 Super High Five carryover of $55,690 for Friday’s ninth and final race at 4:48 p.m. PT…Friday’s $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:38 p.m. PT with the eighth race from Gulfstream Park. The Coast to Coast has a player-friendly 15 percent takeout rate and is open to retail customers only…Trainer Gloria Haley broke her Santa Anita maiden Sunday when winning the second race with longshot Clarina ($33.40), who was ridden by Hugo Herrera....Nominations close Friday for next weekend’s GIII Santa Ana Stakes on Saturday and Irish O’Brien Stakes on Sunday…Santa Anita will host a special St. Patrick’s Day card on Monday, March 17…Legendary race caller Trevor Denman announced his retirement on Thursday. Denman served as Santa Anita’s track announcer from 1983 to 2015… Billy Koch, founder & managing partner of Little Red Feather, will be host Tom Quigley’s handicapping guest Saturday on the Santa Anita simulcast feed starting at 10:50 a.m.