Kings River Knight one to beat in E.B. Johnston Stakes
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Racing nostalgia and handicapping acumen cross paths Saturday in the first stakes of the September daytime Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos.
Like a fun story about the history of California breeding? Kings River Knight is the right horse in the $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes. Like to wager on a sure thing? Kings River Knight might not be the right favorite to back, though he is the one to beat.
Seven older horses bred in California race one mile in the E.B. Johnston, named for Ellwood B. Johnston, founder of Old English Rancho. The farm long ranked among the leading California breeders.
But in the nearly 10 years since the E.B. Johnston Stakes moved from Fairplex Park in Pomona to Los Alamitos, the race has not been won by an Old English Rancho-bred runner nor by trainer John Sadler. Both oversights could be remedied Saturday by Kings River Knight.
A multiple stakes winner bred by Old English Rancho, owned by the Ellwood Johnston Trust, and trained by Sadler, Kings River Knight faces two qualified rivals in the E.B. Johnston – comeback front-runner Hail Freedom and stakes winner Fast Draw Munnings. Both have credentials to upset. Four other entrants include Shortman, Johnny Podres, Geezer, and Finneus.
Kings River Knight, previously based in Northern California, relocated to Southern California early this year. Four starts for Sadler have produced two stakes wins, including the Bertrando at Los Alamitos, and two runner-up stakes finishes.
“He’s just a hard-knocking horse,” Sadler said. “He’s a fun horse, because Buddy Johnston was my neighbor for so many years” at Santa Anita.
Buddy Johnston operated Old English Rancho farm and racing stable after his father, Ellwood, passed. Buddy Johnston died in 2015.
Kings River Knight is sired by Acclamation, the multiple Grade 1 winner Johnston said was the best horse he ever owned. Juan Hernanez rides 5-for-11 Kings River Knight, first or second in all 10 starts at 1 1/16 miles or shorter.
A multi-surface gelding who has run well on turf, dirt, and synthetic, Kings River Knight enters the E.B. Johnston off a runner-up finish on turf in the California Dreamin’ at Del Mar. But on Saturday, Kings River Knight faces a pair of tough rivals.
Hail Freedom, trained by Doug O’Neill and owned by breeder Ed Delaney, improved last year when he moved to dirt. He scored three successive front-running allowance wins, including a pair of 96 Beyer performances fast enough to win Saturday. Edwin Maldonado rides Hail Freedom, who will try to wire the field in his first start since October.
Fast Draw Munnings, trained by Jeff Mullins, wired an allowance route in his comeback last month. A 3-for-7 California-bred stakes winner whose rider is Hector Berrios, Fast Draw Munnings enters fall with upside in his just his second start following an extended layoff.
Hail Freedom and Fast Draw Munnings are the reasons Kings River Knight is not a slam dunk. Hail Freedom could wire the field, Fast Draw Munnings could improve second start back. But if Kings River Knight relaxes just off the pace, he is undoubtedly the one to beat.
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