Cistron, trying dirt again, cruises in Kona Gold

ARCADIA, Calif. – Prior to Saturday’s Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita, Cistron had not raced on dirt since the summer of 2017 and had not won on the surface since the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn Park in the spring of 2017.

As the $200,000 Kona Gold Stakes drew closer, trainer John Sadler and his team decided a $4,000 supplemental entry was a worthy gamble. Sadler credited assistant trainer, and former jockey, Juan Leyva with the decision, which was made when entries were taken on Wednesday.

Saturday, Cistron led throughout the Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs to win the richest race of his career.

“Juan had a big assist,” Sadler said. “He nudged me to try the dirt.

“We supplemented him because the field was a little light and we wanted to jump in there.”

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Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Cistron ($15.60) led throughout the Kona Gold Stakes, finishing in 1:16.33. Cistron earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.

Cistron never faced a serious challenge. He led by a length through an opening quarter-mile in 22.07 seconds and by two lengths after a half-mile in 44.70. Cistron pulled clear through the stretch to win by 5 1/4 lengths over All Out Blitz, a 5-2 chance who won the Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes at Sunland Park on March 24.

Dr. Dorr finished third, followed by Kanthaka and Zatter in the small field. Kanthaka, the 3-2 favorite, was never closer than third and was beaten 7 1/4 lengths.

Cistron is the second recent sprint-stakes winner for Sadler and owners Pete and Kosta Hronis. They won the San Carlos Stakes with St. Joe Bay on March 30, who was also ridden by Espinoza and won from the front.

Cistron, a 5-year-old horse by The Factor, has won 4 of 24 starts and earned $480,719. The Kona Gold Stakes was his first win since the Northern Spur, ending a 17-race losing streak. Cistron was second in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course on March 31 and has run well on that surface in the last year.

Hillside races have been cancelled indefinitely after a two-horse spill occurred in the San Simeon Stakes in which Arms Runner sustained a fatal injury.