Sadler Savors 'Special Win' by Stellar Wind

If there was ever a time to celebrate, July 30 was the day for trainer John Sadler, who saddled Stellar Wind to an upset victory over Beholder in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I) on his 60th birthday.

That doesn't mean he didn't feel it a day after. Some good food and drink post-race with owner Kosta Hronis and only a couple hours of sleep for a full slate of workers can do that.

"I was so geared up last night, it was a little hard to sleep," the trainer said with a smile July 31 in the Del Mar barn area. "I'm feeling 60-years-old today."

Sadler hesitated to report on the condition of the 4-year-old daughter of Curlin   the morning after arguably the best effort of her career, but did say she ate up well after the race.

BALAN: Stellar Wind Upsets Beholder in Hirsch

"It's still early, so you can't tell really yet, but she ate up real well last night," Sadler said. "A day after, a lot of times they still have some adrenaline going."

As for Stellar Wind's plans for the future, Sadler is sticking to the program he has laid out for the 2015 champion 3-year-old filly and is not tempted by the Pacific Classic (gr. I). Up next will likely be the Zenyatta Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park in late September, with another run the Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) to follow.

"I like the spacing. Sixty days and then 30 days, that's fine with me," he said. "Last year, when I gave her that good spacing, with the Torrey Pines (gr. III), I think she ran her best race in the Breeders' Cup. The spacing is good for us. I love it even more after a hard race, to give her extra time."

Looking forward is important for Stellar Wind's connections, who have consistently said the Distaff is their top goal, but looking back and reassessing the filly's performance is also of value.

The Hirsch had significant context, according to Sadler. In their previous meeting, the June 4 Vanity Mile (gr. I), Stellar Wind drew the less-than-ideal inside post with Beholder to her outside, but the roles were reversed Saturday.

"You hope it all works and everything we did yesterday worked. It all went the way we hoped and we're very happy," Sadler said. "Last time, we had the one (post) and we got stuck inside with a slow pace and still ran a good race. For something like that, the little things have to go right, and yesterday we were outside."

Sadler also isn't ruling out Beholder in the future by any means, which is in line with trainer Richard Mandella's takeaway the morning after.

"This race might really help Beholder, too," Sadler said. "Don't count her out. Certain people think she's done. I'd expect her to battle back. The overreaction to one run is too much."

Mandella admitted Sunday morning that he didn't have his three-time champion at maximum fitness for the Hirsch.

"She's a little tired this morning. She always is the morning after a race and that lasts about a day," Mandella said. "She ran her heart out. I didn't train her for her life for this race, but I didn't think she'd have to run for it, and (Stellar Wind) made her run for it.

“She came up a little short. It was probably more my fault than anything."

As for Beholder's immediate future, her Hall of Fame trainer firmly had a wait-and-see attitude regarding an attempt to defend her title in the Pacific Classic.

"We'll know more each day. I know what the question is (about the Pacific Classic)," Mandella said. "I don't know. The reason I did it last year was because everything was perfect. Yesterday, everything didn't go perfect. I'm not saying no. We'll see. Those two mares ran a fabulous race."

The Hirsch was Sadler's 25th grade I win, dating back to his first with Victory Encounter in the 2004 Vanity, but Saturday's stretch battle featuring two Eclipse Award winners will hold a special place in his heart.

"We've run bigger races for more money, but this was a very special win—just the way it went," Sadler said. "It was a classic race that people will remember for a long time.

"It was special—no question. Right up there."