Mona de Momma gives Sadler another

ARCADIA, Calif. - Mona de Momma ran the best race of her career to win her first stakes in Sunday's at Santa Anita, giving trainer John Sadler his second feature race win of the weekend.

Saturday, the Sadler-trainer Sidney's Candy won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby and is a candidate for the Kentucky Derby on May 1.

In the Grade 3 Las Flores, the 4-year-old Mona de Momma ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.50 under jockey Joel Rosario, outfinishing Free Flying Soul by a head. Alpha's Kitten, the 2-1 favorite, finished third, a half-length behind Free Flying Soul.

Mona de Momma was sixth after a quarter-mile and closed 5 1/2 lengths in the final three furlongs to reach the front in the final sixteenth.

"She had a perfectly timed ride from Rosario," Sadler said.

Owned by Michael Talla, Mona de Momma, by Speightstown, has won 4 of 10 starts and $207,096. The Las Flores was her third stakes appearance; she was fifth and fourth in minor stakes in December and February.