Tutta Bella's bullet a good sign

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The final week of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting begins on Wednesday, with trainer John Sadler positioned to win his second training title in the last year.

Sadler, who won the training title here last fall, the first of his career, begins the week with 27 wins, five more than Doug O'Neill.

Sadler said he will have a "medium" amount of starters through Sunday's final day, including Warning Zone in the $150,000 Sunset Handicap on Sunday. Wednesday, Sadler has just one starter, Tutta Bella in an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf, the seventh race.

Owned by breeder Pamela Ziebarth, Tutta Bella has had mixed results at this meeting. She won the Fran's Valentine Stakes for statebred females on turf on April 27, but was only eighth in the restricted Redondo Beach Stakes over a mile on turf June 7.

Sadler took the blame for the loss, saying that a change in tactics - taking Tutta Bella off the pace - was the wrong move.

"We took her back off the pace and she didn't run the way she can," Sadler said. "She didn't run a step. We'll go back to a more forward style. I think I made a mistake on the tactics."

Tutta Bella, 5, has won 4 of 11 starts and $252,720. This has been her best year by far. She won two optional claimers at Santa Anita earlier this year before the Fran's Valentine.

Sadler said he was encouraged by Tutta Bella's six-furlong workout in 1:11.60 at Hollywood Park on Saturday, the fastest of seven recorded works at the distance.

"When she works well, she runs well," he said.

Tutta Bella is part of a five-horse field. The field includes another 2008 stakes winner, Bitterbutsweet, who won two minor stakes at Turf Paradise in the spring. Bitterbutsweet was second to Misty Ocean in the Golden Poppy Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on May 18. The form of that race was flattered when Misty Ocean returned to win the Grade 2 Honeymoon Handicap here last month.

Bitterbutsweet was purchased privately by Tarabilla Farm and transferred from Dan Morgan to trainer David Hofmans in late May. Hofmans considered the Flawlessly Stakes last Friday, but "it looked a little tough," he said. "I think the distance will help her a lot."

The other runners are Gula Gold, Moujane, and Persian Express. Moujane has won 3 of 5 starts this year for trainer Rafael Becerra.