Kings River Knight was in command throughout as he went gate to wire under Juan Hernandez. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Race Is Part Of The Lucrative CTBA-Sponsored Golden State Series
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—Bred in California by Old English Rancho and the epitome of a versatile Cal-bred, John Sadler’s Kings River Knight was in command throughout as he went gate to wire under Juan Hernandez to take Saturday’s $200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic presented by City National Bank by a half-length while getting a mile and one eighth over the Santa Anita turf in 1:48.02. Never better at age six, the bay gelding by Acclamation notched his fifth career stakes win and got his third win in a row dating back to Sept. 16 at Los Alamitos.
The Unusual Heat Turf Classic is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for registered California-bred or sired horses.
Pressed to the top of the lane by longshot Passarando, who was ridden by Frankie Dettori, Kings River Knight then had to fend off stiff challenges from late runners Carmelita’s Man and Aligato who were steadily gaining late.
Fourth, beaten a length in the Turf Classic a year ago when trained by Golden Gate Fields-based Andy Mathis, Kings River Knight, who is now five for seven since relocating to Southern California with Sadler, was last seen on Oct. 15 at Santa Anita, winning the California Flag Handicap at about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course.
The even money favorite today in a field of 10 older horses, Kings River Knight paid $4.20, $2.80 and $2.20.
Owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, LLC, the Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth Tevelde, Kings River Knight is out of the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection. With today’s winner’s share of $110,000, he increased his earnings to $536,010 while running his overall race record to 14-8-5-0.
Patiently handled by Tiago Pereira, the Dean Pederson-trained Carmelita’s Man was mid-pack and into the bridle heading to the far turn, made a solid run through the stretch and ran out of real estate on the money while managing to just hold off Aligato by a nose.
Off at 11-1, Carmelita’s Man paid $7.60 and $4.60.
Trained by Mark Glatt, Aligato rallied wide to finish third at 4-1 under Flavien Prat, returning $2.60 to show.
Fractions on the race were 23.59, 47.67, 1:12.21 and 1:36.36.
$200,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes Quotes
Jockey Quotes
Juan Hernandez, Kings River Knight, Winner: “I give all the credit to trainer John Sadler. He really had this horse ready. He broke like a rocket when the gate opened, and I just let him do his thing. He traveled very comfortably the entire race. When we got to the three-eighths, I saw some horses next to us. He did all the work from there. He was very relaxed and comfortable and did all the work.”
Trainer Quotes
John Sadler, Kings River Knight, Winner: “He’s just been a really good fit in these California stakes. He’s a hard trying horse, won on all three different surfaces. He can run off the hill or on dirt if he has to. The pace was about right. I thought there would be a little more speed, it didn’t quite develop that way, but Juan was happy to take control.
“Old English Rancho are just great California breeders, and Buddy Johnston was my neighbor for about 25-30 years across from Santa Anita here, so it’s wonderful to see these silks win. They have great people, and it is a great California legacy.”
