Kings River Knight back to turf in California Flag

The last time Kings River Knight was beaten in a turf sprint, he finished a nose behind The Chosen Vron in a thrilling running of the Sensational Star Stakes for California-breds on the hillside course at Santa Anita in March.

Kings River Knight had good company that day.

The Chosen Vron, winner of his last eight starts since September 2022, won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in July and is rated as a leading contender for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

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Kings River Knight has thrived in statebred races since the Sensational Star, winning 3 of 4 stakes since late May.

The exemplary record will make Kings River Knight the favorite in his first turf sprint since the Sensational Star in Sunday’s $100,000 California Flag Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Kings River Knight was second in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf on Aug. 5 at Del Mar, and rebounded to record a two-length win in the E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebred milers on Sept. 16 at Los Alamitos.

Trainer John Sadler said earlier this week that a move from a one-mile dirt race to a turf sprint is not one he would normally consider, but that the change in surface and distance works for Kings River Knight.

“Normally, I don’t switch distances, but he ran so well down the hill,” Sadler said. “He’s running with his friends, Cal-breds.”

Owned by the partnership of Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, Kenneth Tevelde, and the estate of the late Bud Johnston, the 5-year-old Kings River Knight has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $366,010.

Kings River Knight is part of a field of seven in the California Flag, the seventh race on an 11-race program that begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.

Kings River Knight is one of four stakes winners in the field along with the multiple graded stakes winner Brickyard Ride as well as Irish Heatwave and None Above the Law.

Last October, None Above the Law closed from sixth in a field of seven to finish second to The Chosen Vron in the California Flag.

Brickyard Ride, a winner of 13 of 28 starts, was a game third behind Breeders’ Cup probables Motorious and Anarchist in the Grade 3 San Simeon Stakes on the hillside turf course in March, his most recent start on turf.

Brickyard Ride, who won the 2022 Sensational Star Stakes on the hillside turf course, had mixed results at Del Mar over the summer, finishing third in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on July 29, but eighth of 10 in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs on Aug. 26.

A return to statebred competition can end a three-race losing streak since the Grade 3 Kona Gold Stakes at six furlongs on dirt in April for Brickyard Ride, who is expected to be part of the pace.

“Hopefully, he can bounce back,” trainer Craig Lewis said. “I think his two down-the-hill races have been very good.”

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