Sadler going for Sunday sweep

Trainer John Sadler, jockey Flavien Prat, and owners Kosta and Pete Hronis – the team that won the Pacific Classic and Pat O’Brien the last two weekends – will seek a sweep of the Sunday stakes at Del Mar with Nolo Contesto in the Grade 2, $250,000 Del Mar Derby and Encoder in the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Turf.

Encoder was an impressive winner first time out going five furlongs, and will stretch out to a mile for his second start.

Among his expected rivals are Billy Batts, Commander, Cool Runnings, and Hit the Road, and possibly Media Blitz, Raging Whiskey, and Thanks Mr. Eidson.

Euros coming for stakes

European imports Applecross and Croughavouke are among the 2-year-old fillies set for their United States debuts in the $100,000 Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf, part of the closing-day card Monday.

Applecross is 1 for 2 and has not raced since finishing well back in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot. She is now trained by Richard Baltas, who also could run Savvy Gal in the race.

Croughavouke also is 1 for 2, with her lone win coming against maidens at Limerick. She has worked twice locally since arriving in the barn of trainer Jeff Mullins, who has tabbed Drayden Van Dyke for Monday’s race.

Among those also under consideration for the one-mile race are A Thousand Dreams, Awesome Drive, Convoluted, Shedaresthedevil, and Warren’s Showtime.

◗ Stormy Liberal, the two-time defending winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, worked five furlongs on the dirt on Tuesday in 1:01. He is expected to make his next start at Kentucky Downs.

◗ Chris Griffin will be the track announcer for the 10-day daytime meet at Los Alamitos, which begins on Sept. 6, the track announced. He also will call the nighttime races during that span, as longtime evening announcer Ed Burgart will be on vacation.