Curlin Rules starts string of stakes starters for Sadler in California Chrome

CYPRESS, Calif. – Curlin Rules will have his stakes debut in Saturday’s $150,000 California Chrome Stakes at Los Alamitos, a race that could be part of a springtime revival for trainer John Sadler.

Last Sunday, Sadler won his first stakes since October with Uptown Twirl in the minor Surfside Stakes at Los Alamitos. Curlin Rules is the stable’s next stakes runner. On May 5, the opening day of the Santa Anita spring-summer meeting, Sadler plans to run Elektrum and Nancy from Nairobi in the $200,000 Royal Heroine Stakes for fillies and mares on turf.

On June 4, Stellar Wind, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2015, is scheduled to have her first start of the year in the $400,000 Vanity Mile.

“A lot of stuff is coming up,” Sadler said.

Curlin Rules has one win in three starts, a maiden race at Santa Anita on Feb. 21. He was third as the even-money favorite in an optional claimer March 27, finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind Mishegas, a candidate for the California Chrome Stakes.

By Curlin, Curlin Rules was ninth in his debut at Santa Anita last December but needed a break following that race.

“He bruised his foot after his first start,” Sadler said. “His last races are good races. I think there is more upside there.”

Sadler said he would have opted for an allowance race for Curlin Rules but did not see the possibility for one in the final days of the Los Alamitos spring meeting, which ends Sunday, or early in the Santa Anita meeting.

“I’d like to go with straight 3-year-olds,” he said.

The California Chrome is run at 1 1/16 miles and is a newly created race. The projected field includes Uncle Lino, who was third in the Santa Anita Derby on April 9, as well as the unbeaten Malibu Sunset, who will have his stakes debut.

Curlin Rules has raced near the front in his last two starts but may race as a stalker on Saturday. Victor Espinoza, who was aboard for the maiden-race win, has the mount.

“We may adjust his style a little bit,” Sadler said. “It depends on how much speed is in there. He has an improving pattern, and we like him.”

One More Round, who was second in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 16, will be entered in the California Chrome Stakes. Trainer A.C. Avila said on Wednesday that One More Round will run if a blood test this week shows the colt to be in good health.

“He came back, and he never missed a meal,” Avila said. “To look at him, I don’t have any concern. I want to make sure. I’ll wait for the blood test, and I’ll make up my mind.”