ARCADIA, Calif. - Proven as a turf sprinter and a miler, Kings River Knight is equally effective in longer two-turn races on turf, too. In Saturday’s $201,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic for California-breds at Santa Anita, Kings River Knight ($4.20) led throughout the race at 1 1/8 miles, the longest victory of his career. Kings River Knight was fourth by a length in the same race a year ago in his only previous start at 1 1/8 miles. On Saturday, Kings River Knight was allowed to set his own pace and sustained his advantage through the final furlong, winning by a half-length over 11-1 Carmelita’s Man, who held off a fast-closing Aligato, the 4-1 second choice in a field of 10. Kings River Knight was timed in 1:48.02 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 93. :: Bet with the Best! Get FREE All-Access PPs and Weekly Cashback when you wager on DRF Bets. Kings River Knight was ridden by Juan Hernandez, who has been aboard the 6-year-old gelding for five stakes wins since last May, including a race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s hillside turf course, one-mile turf races at Del Mar and Santa Anita, and a one-mile race on dirt at Los Alamitos. In those wins, Kings River Knight has led throughout three times and raced from a stalking position twice. On Saturday, Kings River Knight set early fractions of 23.59 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.67 for a half-mile, leading by a length. “He likes to be on the lead,” Hernandez said. “He was comfortable the whole way.” Kings River Knight led by about a length turning into the stretch. “From the three-eighths pole to the wire, he did all the work,” Hernandez said. Carmelita’s Man, who beat Kings River Knight when they were first and second in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar last August, closed from eighth to finish second. Jockey Tiago Pereira moved Carmelita’s Man to the outside at the end of the backstretch, allowing the 7-year-old gelding to gradually reach contention with a wide rally. “Once he got outside, he was fine,” trainer Dean Pederson said. Aligato closed from last with a wide rally to finish third, missing second by a nose. Passarando finished fourth at 76-1, followed by None Above the Law, Bally’s Charm, Silent Heat, Catalina Eddy, Mogollon Rim and Royal ‘n Rando. Kings River Knight, who is by Acclamation, has won 8 of 14 starts and earned $546,010. He races for the partnership of the estate of the late Bud Johnston, Integrity Thoroughbred Racing and Kenneth Tevelde and trainer John Sadler. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.