STABLE NOTES BY ED GOLDEN SATURDAY, OCT. 8, 2022

• FLIGHTLINE BREEZES TOWARDS THE BC CLASSIC • GAS ME UP SET TO ZOOM IN GRADE III ZUMA BEACH • SELL THE DREAM EYES CONFIDENCE IN SURFER GIRL • TOUGH MARE IN A TOUGH RACE, SWINGTIME STAKES • $1 BEERS, SODAS, $2 HOT DOGS ON HOLIDAY MONDAY

SADLER HAS FLIGHTLINE ON TARGET FOR CLASSIC

Undefeated, untested and unbelievable Flightline worked five furlongs at his Santa Anita headquarters his morning in 1:00.40 under assistant trainer and former jockey Juan Leyva in pursuit of the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 5.

(Clockers gave Flightline a six-furlong time of 1:12.40).

“It was the same as last week (when the $1 million son of Tapit went five furlongs in a minute and two-fifths,” said trainer John Sadler, who has two more Saturday drills scheduled at Santa Anita (Oct. 15 and 22) before shipping Oct. 23 to Keeneland where he will have one breeze there before the $6 million Classic at a mile and a quarter.

Flightline won the Sept. 3 Pacific Classic by an astounding 19 ¼ lengths and his five starts by a combined 62 ¾ lengths.

Sadler, a 66-year-old native of Long Beach who began training in 1978 compiling credentials worthy of Hall of Fame consideration along the way, has traveled the Breeders’ Cup trail before, most notably with Accelerate, 5-2 Classic winner in 2018.

“Sometimes these circumstances are tough,” said Sadler, when asked about growing media interest in Flightline. “Because there’s not a whole lot to say about Flightline other than he’s right on his routine, which is exactly what we want.

“He just has to stay himself and right now, he’s doing that. We went to the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Accelerate, who was a mild favorite, but Flightline is going to be a real short price, so we’ve been through it before, but we’re really trying to enjoy this along the way.

“It’s extremely exciting and I’m trying to embrace it. I don’t have a really unique take on Flightline, and that’s the beauty of it.

“We just let Flightline be himself, and he’s right there, so it’s good news.”

LONGSHOT GAS ME UP DOING WELL FOR ZUMA BEACH

Gas Me Up comes off a maiden allowance win into a Grade III Stakes in Sunday’s $200,000 Zuma Beach, a one-mile turf event for two-year-olds.

Peter Eurton anticipates the Canadian-bred son of Hard Spun will handle the challenge in a salty edition of the race which has attracted a field of 14, including two also-eligibles.

“He’s going into the race well, he’s holding good weight and hopefully he gets the trip,” the trainer said. “It’s a good bunch of two-year-olds, but I’m hoping and believe he fits.

“He’ll enjoy more ground down the line, I think. We’ll just have to see how good he is.”

Gas Me Up has had three races, all eventful, including his maiden victory last out Sept. 11 at Del Mar when he was bumped while winning by 1 ½ lengths at 5-1. A longshot on John White’s morning line at 10-1, Gas Me Up gets the services in the Zuma Beach of top jock Juan Hernandez, the colt’s fourth different rider in four starts.

The 11th running of Zuma Beach, race 10 of 10 races with a 1 p.m. first post time: Malibu Coast, Ramon Vazquez, 8-1; Gas Me Up, Juan Hernandez, 10-1; Castleknock, Edwin Maldonado, 30-1; Dandy Man Shines, Umberto Rispoli, 4-1; Packs a Wallop, Mike Smith, 5-2; Valiancer, Kyle Frey, 20-1; Suburban Prince, Victor Espinoza, 30-1; Giver Not a Taker, Jose Valdivia Jr., 6-1; Ah Jeez, Abel Cedillo, 6-1; For A Laugh, Joe Bravo, 4-1; De la Luna, Ryan Curatolo, 30-1; and also-eligibles Russells Hustle, Ash Morgan, 30-1 and Reincarnate, Umberto Rispoli, 6-1.

KORINER SEEKS RACING LUCK IN SURFER GIRL

California-bred Sell the Dream has had eventful trips in her three career starts but still shows a maiden win and a third and a second in two subsequent added-money events, the latter at 9-1 despite being bumped at the start.

Brain Koriner doesn’t think the incident was a big deal.

“It wasn’t bad,” said the trainer, who celebrates his 56th birthday on Oct. 21, and sends out the chestnut daughter of Munnings in Sunday’s Grade III Surfer Girl for two-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.

Sell the Dream broke from the number nine post position going a mile in the ungraded Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf Sept. 10 and would seem to have a more favorable spot from the two hole in the Surfer Girl.

“She just has to get a little racing luck,” Koriner said. “She’s doing well. With a route under her belt, hopefully she’ll be a little tighter, a little more ready and we’ll know what we’ve got.

“Maybe she’ll get a little more confidence, too.”

The Surfer Girl, race five: Bolts Babe, Kyle Frey, 15-1; Sell the Dream, Abel Cedillo, 4-1; Comanche Country, Umberto Rispoli, 8-5; Bolt’s Broad, Drayden Van Dyke, 20-1; Court Snort, Mario Gutierrez, 20-1; Fast and Shiny, Joe Bravo, 6-1; Queenzy, Mike Smith, 15-1; Excelia, Ramon Vazquez, 4-1; Havana Angel, Ryan Curatolo, 10-1; and Cast Member, Hector Berrios, 12-1.

HESS SWEET ON NEW CLAIM SUGAR FIX FOR SWINGTIME

Sugar Fix, a productive Florida-bred daughter of the stallion Treasure Beach, runs in Sunday’s $80,000 Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares three and up at a mile on grass first time off a $62,000 claim by Bob Hess Jr.

“This is the race we had in mind when we claimed her (at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 1),” the trainer said. “It’s a tough little spot, for sure, but she’s a tough mare, as well. She’s got a stellar grass record and runs pretty well on synthetic. We’re looking forward to her debut for us on Sunday.” True enough. The five-year-old bay has 11 wins and eight seconds in 29 career starts, with earnings of $422,393.

Hess has engaged Edwin Maldonado to ride. The two have enjoyed mutual success in the past.

“I love him,” Hess said. “He’s a good rider and a great guy.”

The Swingtime, race seven: Javanica, Drayden Van Dyke, 10-1; Warrens Candy Girl, Umberto Rispoli, 3-1; Sugar Fix, Edwin Maldonado, 6-1; Hamwood Flier, Mike Smith, 5-2; Counterparty Risk, Ramon Vazquez, 3-1; Natural Colour, Pedro Terrero, 5-1; and Rocking Redhead, Abel Cedillo, 8-1.

FINISH LINES: Santa Anita presents a four-day racing weekend today through Monday, Oct. 10, with special holiday racing but there will be no live racing Friday, Oct. 14. Monday is Dollar Day, offering $1 beers and sodas and $2 hot dogs . . . Condolences to family and friends of longtime Bay Area-based trainer John (Mickey) Martin who has passed away at age 63 after a lengthy illness. Martin saddled his first horse in 1984 and trained quarter horses early in his career before transitioning to Thoroughbreds. He won 1,960 races and amassed purse earnings of $23,835,366.