Sadler Reflects on Breeders' Cup Win, Losses

The wait is over for highly respected trainer John Sadler, but the morning of Nov. 4 he wasn't all that interested in talking about winning his first Breeders' Cup race after years of trying.

Instead he was talking horses. And, though his Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Accelerate  was the centerpiece of the day after, he was sure to include reports on all of his Breeders' Cup prospects.

As for how Accelerate exited the Classic, Sadler said he looked very good Sunday morning before he shipped to Lane's End Farm for the week to be shown as a stallion prospect.

"We jogged him up and down the road (outside Churchill Downs' Barn 43) and he looked very sound and happy."

While Accelerate brought Sadler a rosy outlook Saturday, there were some thorns. Chief among that category was the off-the-board finish by highly-regarded Catalina Cruiser in the Dirt Mile (G1) as the favorite.

"We'll get him home to California and give him a full vetting and see what's going on," Sadler said. "That was a disappointing run for him yesterday, but the plan is to campaign him at 5 (in 2019), and you'll see better (from) him going forward.

"We scoped him after the race and he came back clean. (Jockey) Drayden (Van Dyke) said he was in a good position around the turn but then started to lug out a little bit and didn't really kick in. At that point he didn't force him or beat him up. He's a lightly raced horse, so we'll check him out and get ready for another day." 

While not reaching to blame the track as not ideal for Catalina Cruiser, Sadler did say that jockey Tyler Baze indicated that could have been a reason for the performance of the speedy Selcourt in the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).

"Tyler said the ground kind of broke away from her," the trainer said.

Sadler beamed while talking about Catapult's runner-up finish in the Mile (G1T).

"We're really proud of him. It was a very good second," Sadler said. "He handled the yielding turf really well. He's been a really good horse. He won two nice stakes at Del Mar, and he got beat by Sir Michael Stoute (Expert Eye), so that puts him in good company. He'll probably run next in the ... Pegasus Turf (Jan. 26)."

Trainer Antonio Sano reported that Margoth's Gunnevera exited his second-place finish in the Classic in good order.

The 4-year-old son of Dialed In  is scheduled to ship back to Sano's Gulfstream Park West barn Nov. 5.

"We will run him in the Pegasus," said Sano, referring to the $9 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 26 at Gulfstream Park, which is also the next target for Accelerate.

It was business as usual around the Brad Cox barn Sunday morning, a day after the operation continued its banner year with a Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) victory by Monomoy Girl. Cox reported his star filly came out of the race well and will be given a few days to "relax and chill" before any future plans are made. Cox said she would race again as a 4-year-old, with the ultimate goal being a return trip to the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita Park.

In addition to Monomoy Girl, Cox also finished fourth in the Longines Turf (G1T) with Arklow, fifth in the Turf Sprint (G1T) with Will Call, and fifth in Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) with Golden Mischief.

"I need to get with the owners first to see if Arklow stays in training or gets a break, and Will Call will get a break," Cox said. "The goal with Will Call is to get him back to the form he showed at Keeneland in April and Churchill in May. Golden Mischief has been retired."

All the European horses who contended this year's Breeders' Cup were reported to be in good health after their exertions Saturday.

The first to leave Churchill Downs will be the team from Ballydoyle. All will be returning to Ireland, with the exception of Clemmie, who will remain in the U.S.

Most of the Ballydoyle runners have finished for the season, but Mendelssohn , Magic Wand, Gustav Klimt, and Hunting Horn could head to Hong Kong next month for the International Races Dec. 9.

Talismanic holds engagements in the Hong Kong Cup (G1) and Vase (G1), but his participation is not yet known. Trainer Andre Fabre will not make a decision until the horses have returned back to Chantilly. 

John Gosden reported Enable pleased him Sunday morning, when he went to see the daughter of Nathaniel.

"She is absolutely fine this morning" Gosden said. A decision as to whether Enable remains in training has not been made.

Gosden also reported his Breeders' Cup Classic runner Roaring Lion to be in fine fettle. The son of Kitten's Joy  will now get a rest before he goes off to stud.

Another of Qatar Racing's horses has run his last race. Lightning Spear, who has been David Simcock's stable star for the past couple seasons, will now start his career as a stallion along with Roaring Lion at Tweenhills.