Sadler hopes to keep ball rolling

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Licari and Storm Fox give trainer John Sadler two formidable starters in a $39,000 allowance race over a mile on turf at Hollywood Park on Wednesday.

A win by either would continue a strong run of success for the Sadler stable, which has won with three of nine starters in the first week of the Hollywood Park meeting.

, who may go favored, is seeking his third win in his last four starts. A 3-year-old colt owned by Jerry and Ann Moss, Licari beat maidens at Del Mar on Aug. 8, finished fourth in an allowance race at Bay Meadows on Sept. 5, but rebounded to beat $80,000 claimers at Santa Anita on Oct. 14.

"He's proven to be an honest horse," Sadler said. "He threw in a funny one up north. We couldn't figure it out other than he didn't ship. He's been pretty steady."

In his recent claiming race, which was restricted to 3-year-olds, Licari rallied from fifth to win by a half-length. The race marks his only appearance against claimers.

Wednesday's race, which includes older horses, is the seventh on an eight-race program. The race oversubscribed with 13 runners, but will have a safety limit of 10 starters.

Licari is one of five entrants coming off wins. Sunday Times won a maiden race at Del Mar on Aug. 7, Legal Logic won an allowance race for statebreds at Santa Anita on Oct. 15, won an allowance race in Argentina in August 2003, and Rhythm King beat maidens at Santa Anita last month.

is stuck on the also-eligible list. He is owned by the Mosses and would be coupled with Licari if he draws into the field.

will be well backed. He ended an eight-race losing streak Oct. 15, rallying from last in a nine-horse field to win by a half-length.

There should be ample pace for contenders such as Legal Logic and Licari. Running Free, second in an allowance race at Del Mar on Aug. 14, and Cyber City Slew, who has been setting the pace in main-track sprints, should be on the front.

, Sadler's other starter, will be a longshot.

A 4-year-old gelding, Storm Fox has started once in this country, finishing sixth in an allowance race on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Oct. 9. In Chile last year, Storm Fox had three wins in 10 starts, all in minor races. He was well beaten in three stakes.

"He looks like he wants the distance," Sadler said.