Bran to opt for winter stakes instead of BC Turf Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – Not all the runners in graded stakes at Santa Anita this weekend are being aimed for Breeders’ Cup races on Nov. 3-4.

Bran, a three-time stakes winner, will start in Saturday’s Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. For some runners, the $200,000 Eddie D Stakes could lead to a start in the BC Turf Sprint at five furlongs on Nov. 4.

That is not the case with Bran, who closed from last of 12 to finish seventh by 3 1/4 lengths in the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

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“Five-eighths was a little short for him at Del Mar,” trainer John Sadler said.

The Green Flash was Bran’s first start since a win in the Grade 2 Turf Sprint at six furlongs on the undulating course at Kentucky Downs in September 2022.

Owned by Hronis Racing, Bran won two stakes at Santa Anita earlier in 2022 – the Siren Lure Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on the flat turf course, and the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes on the hillside turf course.

The Eddie D Stakes, named for retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, would give Bran a foundation for the turf sprint stakes of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting that begins on Dec. 26.

“I think he’s a good fit in there,” Sadler said of Saturday’s race.

A year ago, Sadler’s stable was the focus of national attention. The barn was led by Flightline, who won the BC Classic at Keeneland last November and retired unbeaten in six starts.

This year, the stable has a much lower profile.

On Friday’s opening day of the 19-day Santa Anita autumn meeting, Sadler may start the 4-year-old filly Kirstenbosch in the Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Kirstenbosch, who races for Keith Abrahams, has won 3 of 16 starts and earned $461,480. Kirstenbosch won the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita in January and closed with interest after a slow start and a wide trip to finish second in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 27.

The $100,000 Chillingworth Stakes, named for the late racetrack executive Sherwood Chillingworth, is designed as a prep for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

There are eight graded stakes at Santa Anita from Friday through Sunday that are preps for the Breeders’ Cup weekend races.

Kings River Knight, Sadler’s leading California-bred, won the E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos earlier this month for his third stakes win of the year. Sadler said on Sunday that Kings River Knight is likely to make his next start in the $100,000 California Flag Handicap at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Oct. 15.

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