Sadler aims to continue hot streak at Del Mar

Shigeki Kikkawa

Holy Candy is one of four starters trainer John Sadler has for two divisions of Wednesday's Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar.

Trainer John Sadler will know by sundown Wednesday whether his red-hot streak has extended through opening day at Del Mar.

From July 1 through Sunday, Sadler won with 11 of 21 starters, including a sweep of the three graded stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park Saturday – the Grade 1 American Oaks with Lady of Shamrock, the Grade 2 A Gleam Handicap with Switch, and the Grade 3 Hollywood Juvenile Championship with Scherer Magic.

“It was a good finish to the meet,” Sadler said.

Wednesday at Del Mar, Sadler has four runners in the two divisions of the Oceanside Stakes for 3-year-olds on turf – Koast and You Know I Know in the sixth race and Holy Candy and Stoney Fleece in the ninth race. Sadler expects to have a strong meeting at Del Mar, which runs through Sept. 5.

In the day’s fifth race, a maiden special weight race for California-breds, Sadler runs the first-time starter Life a Riley.

“I think we have a fine bunch of 2-year-olds,” he said.

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Switch, 5, earned a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 with her win in the A Gleam. She was second in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs in both 2010 and 2011.

Sadler said that Switch is likely to start in the $150,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap over 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 19, even though the distance is not ideal.

“The 6 1/2 [furlongs] might be a little short for her,” he said.

Lady of Shamrock is a candidate for the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on turf Aug. 18. Sadler and owner Kosta Hronis are considering the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2 for Lady of Shamrock, who has won four turf stakes since Christmas.

“We’re excited about her,” Sadler said. “Distance is not a problem.”

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith rode Lady of Shamrock in the $350,000 American Oaks. He was left with the impression that the filly can show further improvement, suggesting a Breeders’ Cup start may be worth pursuing.

“It could be time to think outside the box with her,” Smith said.