Higher Power rewards Sadler's confidence in Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, Calif. – It took trainer John Sadler until the 28th running of the Pacific Classic to finally win it. He liked it so much, he thought he’d do it again.

Sadler, his primary owners, Kosta and Pete Hronis, and groom Alex Escobar took down the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic for the second straight year in its 29th running on Saturday, with Higher Power romping to a 5 1/4-length victory at Del Mar to earn a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

Sadler, Escobar, and the Hronises won it last year with Accelerate, who powered home to a 12 1/2-length victory and a little more than two months won later won the Classic at Churchill Downs, giving Sadler his first Breeders’ Cup victory after several near misses.

Joel Rosario was aboard Accelerate last year, replacing the injured Victor Espinoza. Flavien Prat was the beneficiary this year, adding to an incredible 2019 that has seen him also win the Kentucky Derby and Queen’s Plate.

Higher Power ($21.20) led a parade of longshots across the finish, with 13-1 Draft Pick finishing second by a neck over 18-1 Mongolian Groom, with 12-1 Tenfold fourth. The better-fancied runners disappointed. Seeking the Soul, the 2-1 favorite, was seventh in the field of 10, 3-1 second choice Quip finished ninth, and 9-2 third choice Pavel was eighth.

Higher Power sat second behind Quip during the early going, but after six furlongs in 1:12.65, Quip backed up suddenly, and Higher Power found himself alone on the lead.

Prat didn’t wait around. He went for it, opened a daylight lead with Higher Power, and never was in danger through the lane.

“The leader fell apart, and he jumped into the bridle. I thought it was the right move,” said Prat, who said he was surprised Quip went in reverse so quickly because “we didn’t go that fast the first part.”

Higher Power completed 1 1/4 miles on the fast main track in 2:02.43.

Higher Power – a 4-year-old colt by Medaglia d’Oro out of the Seattle Slew mare Alternate – is only a recent arrival into Sadler’s barn. He had been trained first by Donnie Von Hemel and then by Mike Stidham, for whom he won a combined three times in nine starts. When he went through a sale for older horses at Keeneland earlier this year, Stidham rang up Sadler and recommended he take a look at the horse.

“He said the client was moving the horse along,” Sadler said.

Sadler dispatched bloodstock agent David Ingordo – responsible for finding such Sadler-trained and Hronis-owned nuggets as Accelerate and Gift Box – who reported to Sadler that he was “a big, good-looking horse,” Sadler said.

“He’s a beautiful-looking horse, with a stallion’s pedigree,” Sadler said. “I’m grateful Mike Stidham called me. With all the sales going on, I might have missed him.”

With his biggest win in a second-level allowance, and now a 4-year-old, Higher Power was acquired for what now looks like a fire sale, $250,000.

In his first start for Sadler, Higher Power finished fifth of seven in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 27. He added blinkers for his next start, which produced a victory in a third-level allowance on turf at Santa Anita on June 14, and then he was second here on July 21 in the Wickerr, also on turf.

Sharp works on dirt in subsequent weeks, combined with Gift Box needing some time off and Catalina Cruiser adjudged not suitable for 10 furlongs, convinced Sadler that Higher Power deserved a chance in the Pacific Classic.

“I bear a lot of responsibility, because I can’t blame it on the client,” said Sadler, who gets wide latitude from the Hronis brothers.

Kosta Hronis attended the race even though his wife, Stephanie, had surgery on Friday, which was planned. She insisted he go.

“She said if you don’t go I’m never going again,” Hronis said.

“Higher Power was an appropriate name today,” he said.