Kings River Knight was in command throughout as he went gate to wire under Juan Hernandez to take the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at Santa Anita Jan. 13, 2024. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
The Crystal Water Is 1 of 5 Stakes on California Gold Rush Day for Horses Bred or Sired in California
Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— Kings River Knight will look to continue his dominance in the California-bred ranks when he tries to make it repeat victories in the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes at one mile on turf Saturday at Santa Anita.
Trained by John Sadler, Kings River Knight collected his first stakes win in last year’s Crystal Water. He has since added four more statebred stakes wins, which includes two on dirt. As a 6-year-old this year, the Acclamation gelding is 2-for-2. He won the 1 1/8-mile Unusual Heat Turf Classic here Jan. 13, then beat open company in a second-level allowance going a mile on turf Feb. 24.
Kings River Knight is 15: 9-5-0 with $589,830 in earnings for Integrity Thoroughbred Racing LLC, The Ellwood Johnston Family Trust and Kenneth A. Tevelde. He will have regular rider Juan Hernandez in the irons.
Also making a return trip to the Crystal Water are veteran statebred stakes winners Coalinga Road, Carmelita’s Man and None Above The Law. The three geldings are a combined 1-for-18 since last year’s Crystal Water.
Carmelita’s Man, trained by Dean Pederson, was third in last year’s Crystal Water. In his 7-year-old bow Jan. 13, Carmelita’s Man was beaten just a half-length by Kings River Knight when second in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic. He has since earned minor awards when facing open company in a pair of second-level allowance heats on turf.
A gelding by Mucho Macho Man, Carmelita’s Man is 32: 8-7-3 with $615,056 in earnings for owners Lawrence T. Jett and Ann Jett. He will be ridden by Tiago Pereira.
Coalinga Road, second in last year’s Crystal Water, most recently was third against open company in a first-level allowance at a mile on turf here May 5. Trained by Carla Gaines, the 7-year-old by Quality Road will have hot-riding Antonio Fresu in the irons.
Coalinga Road, who won last year’s Unusual Heat Turf Classic prior to the Crystal Water, is a homebred for Harris Farms. He is 25: 4-8-6 with $438,814 in earnings.
The new face in the lineup is 4-year-old colt Old Pal for trainer Mark Glatt. The son of Grazen last May won the Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita. He did not race again in 2023.
Old Pal returned from an 11-plus month layoff May 5 and promptly scored versus open company in a first-level allowance at a mile on turf. Hall of Famer Mike Smith was aboard for the comeback win and again takes the call.
Old Pal is owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable, James Titus, Les Wagner, et. al. He is 5: 3-1-1 with $194,060 in earnings.
THE CRYSTAL WATER
Race 4 of 10, Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT
First post for a 10- race card on California Gold Rush Day is 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.
