ARCADIA, Calif. – Even if Kings River Knight is not a lock to win the $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic, his role as favorite is fitting in the deepest of five California-bred stakes Saturday at Santa Anita. “There’s some wayback California roots in this horse,” trainer John Sadler noted, referring to the gelding’s breeder, Old English Rancho, and pedigree. Old English Rancho once was the top breeding farm in the state. Kings River Knight is by Acclamation, the Cal-bred Grade 1 winner who was the top horse sired by Unusual Heat, the late stallion the stakes race is named for. Historical sentimentality aside, Kings River Knight faces multiple challenges Saturday, when he tries to pick up where he left off in 2023. He won 4 of 7 last year, all Cal-bred stakes, but the nine-furlong distance of the Turf Classic is a stretch and his rivals are solid. The 10-runner field includes stakes winners Bally’s Charm, Aligato, None Above the Law, Carmelita’s Man, and lightly raced upset candidate Catalina Eddy. Others in the Turf Classic, race 9, are Mogollon Rim, Silent Heat, Passarando, and Royal ’n Rando. Kings River Knight is racing for the first time since October, when he won his fourth stakes of 2023. “He had such a wonderful year, we gave him a little break into Santa Anita, expecting him to have a good year this year,” Sadler said. “I’ve had plenty of time to train him. He hasn’t missed a work.” What’s missing is recent success at an extended distance. Kings River Knight, 7 for 13 overall, lost his last three starts beyond one mile. He finished fourth last year in the Turf Classic before he was moved into the Sadler stable from Andy Mathis. Since the trainer switch, six starts by Kings River Knight include four wins and two seconds. He is 4 for 4 with jockey Juan Hernandez. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Kings River Knight figures for a pressing trip Saturday behind front-runners Catalina Eddy and Bally’s Charm. A contested pace would benefit Aligato, winner of the Turf Classic in 2022 and runner-up last year. In the money seven straight races, Aligato’s last win was January 2022. “He’s been a little unlucky,” trainer Mark Glatt noted. “He should have won race last year. But he doesn’t break very good, and he’s not very fast anyway. He’s kind of compromised from the start, and it’s hard for him to get the right trip in a lot of those races.” Flavien Prat rides Aligato, a late-running gelding by Kitten’s Joy. Aligato has won 2 of 14 starts. Bally’s Charm, trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Hector Berrios, ended 2023 with two of the best races of his career. He won a highly rated allowance in October, and last time out finished second in a restricted stakes won by Easter, who subsequently won two graded stakes. A 5-for-11 gelding sired by Roi Charmant, the challenge facing Bally’s Charm is to cope with stretch-out front-runner Catalina Eddy. It could be the other way around, perhaps Catalina Eddy must cope with Bally’s Charm. Either way, those two front-runners help ensure an honest pace. Craig Lewis trains Catalina Eddy, a lightly raced 4-year-old by Square Eddie whose fourth-place sprint comeback was better than it looks. He pressed a blazing pace and hung tough to deep stretch. Lewis holds Catalina Eddy in high regard, but acknowledges the difficulty in stretching to 1 1/8 miles off just a single prep race. “My only issue is he’s had one sprint,” Lewis said. “But this is a good horse, and he doesn’t need the lead. [Bally’s Charm] has speed, so we might sit off him. Or, we might go and let him sit off of us.” Kazushi Kimura rides Catalina Eddy, who is 2 for 5. None Above the Law was nominated to both the $150,000 California Cup Sprint and Turf Classic; his trainer settled on the grass race. “The competition it a little bit lighter, and the purse is a little big bigger,” Peter Miller explained. “And he did win the Del Mar Derby at that distance on the grass.” The Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in 2021 was the most recent win by None Above the Law. Late-runner Carmelita’s Man would benefit by a contested pace. Dean Pederson trains the 8-for-29 stakes winner, whose rider is Tiago Pereira. The Unusual Heat Turf Classic is the final race Saturday, and the anchor leg in the $3 all-turf pick three that covers races 5, 7, and 9. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.