Santa Anita: Sadler's sophomores draw Rosario to California

ARCADIA, Calif. – When jockey Joel Rosario was based in Southern California, one of his biggest supporters was trainer John Sadler. The band is back together, not quite as frequently, but still making hits.

With Rosario making a rare appearance at Santa Anita on Sunday, he and Sadler teamed to win the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes with Kobe’s Back, and on Monday, Sadler said Rosario had picked up the mount on Kristo for the Grade 2, $300,000 San Felipe Stakes on March 8 at Santa Anita.

Kristo worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Monday at Santa Anita.

Kobe’s Back, Kristo, and Candy Boy form a formidable trio for Sadler among the nation’s leading 3-year-olds. Kobe’s Back has yet to earn any points toward a start in the Kentucky Derby, but he’ll get a chance in his next start. Sadler on Monday reiterated that the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel Stakes on March 15 at Oaklawn Park would be the next stop for Kobe’s Back, whom Sadler said emerged from the San Vicente in good condition.

“We wanted to get a good one at home in good weather first, then we’re going to look at a race with points for him in the next one,” Sadler said.

A win in the Rebel is worth 50 points under the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the field for the May 3 Kentucky Derby should more than the maximum of 20 horses enter.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

The San Vicente was the first start for Kobe’s Back since a 10th-place finish in December in the CashCall Futurity, in which he clipped the heels of stablemate Candy Boy near the far turn. Rosario rode him for the first time that day and made his way across the country to retain the mount.

“I just wanted him to ride him patiently,” Sadler said.

Sadler said the San Felipe would be “a little quick back” for Kobe’s Back, “and we have Kristo for that.” Candy Boy is awaiting the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

Kobe’s Back, a colt by Flatter, has won twice in four starts. He won his debut last summer at Hollywood Park in the Willard Proctor Memorial, then was second to Shared Belief in the Hollywood Prevue before his CashCall Futurity debacle.

The San Vicente was one of two graded stakes for 3-year-olds run in California over the weekend. At Golden Gate Fields on Saturday, Tamarando rallied to win the El Camino Real Derby, earning 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

On Monday, Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains Tamarando, said the most likely next stop for Tamarando was the Grade 3, $550,000 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park on March 22, but he said he’s keeping his options open.

“We’re going to take a good look at that race, but nothing’s written in stone,” Hollendorfer said.

The El Camino Real Derby was run on the synthetic Tapeta surface at Golden Gate. Tamarando has proven himself adept on both synthetic and dirt. His biggest win, though, came on Polytrack last summer in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. Turfway also has a Polytrack surface.

Tamarando had finished second to California Chrome in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita last month. California Chrome, trained by Art Sherman, is scheduled to make his next start in the San Felipe.