Sadler’s Joy Wins Pan American at Wire

After just missing by a head his first graded stakes attempt last time out, Sadler's Joy had another close call April 1 at Gulfstream Park in the $200,000 Pan American Stakes (G2T), but this time finished on top.

Woodslane Farm's homebred son of Kitten's Joy   raced second to last in the eight-horse field over 1 1/2 miles on the firm turf, as Reporting Star broke well and maintained the lead through a mile, setting fractions of :24.15, :49.77, 1:15.54, and 1:40.42. Taghleeb settled near the back of the pack for most of the race, with Mr Maybe trailing. 

Around the final turn, longshot Designed for War pushed the pace, then took over the lead and maintained an advantage into the stretch. Taghleeb began to make a run on the inside as Patterson Cross and Sadler's Joy were flying on the outside. As the trio simultaneously rushed toward the wire, Sadler's Joy and jockey Julien Leparoux just got up in the final stride to secure the win by a head. Designed for War secured second, a neck over Patterson Cross. The final time was 2:26.89.

Taghleeb was another length back in fourth. Reporting Star, Snag, Montclair, and Mr Maybe completed the order of finish.

"I always knew this horse had a really good kick,” trainer Tom Albertrani said, adding that he will point the 4-year-old colt to the May 13 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) Belmont Park. "I got really excited the first time I ever saw this horse run, the way he finished, and it took him a couple of races to kind of put things together. All of sudden, once we got to Saratoga, he broke his maiden and came back with two more nice wins. We gave him a little time. We just felt this horse had a lot of potential."

Sadler's Joy returned $9.40, $5.60, and $3.60 across the board. Designed for War paid $12.40 and $7.40, while Patterson Cross was worth $3.

"I had a very good trip," Leparoux said. "I think Taghleeb got the jump on us last time when he came running and finished very strong. Today I was clear all the way so could make my move whenever I wanted it.

"He finished up good on that track, a speed-favoring track, to come from where we came from, I think that was a good race. I thought I had it, but everybody was not sure, so I was like, 'Maybe I didn't get it.' But I thought I had it."

Sadler's Joy now boasts four wins from eight starts with $302,968 in earnings, but his victory Saturday was his first graded stakes triumph. Bred in Kentucky, the chestnut colt is out of the Dynaformer mare Dynaire.

Last time out, Taghleeb got the best of him in the W. L. McKnight Handicap (G3T) Jan. 28 after Sadler's Joy went three wide into the stretch. Before that, he had three consecutive wins in New York, most recently a 1 1/2-length score in a Nov. 9 allowance optional clamining race at Aqueduct Racetrack.