John Sadler

DEAUVILLE, France--It would seem that Arqana has pulled off the impossible. Ask ten different people at the sales a certain question and you'd usually end up with ten different opinions. But there is one thing on which everyone patrolling the sales grounds in Deauville can apparently agree, and that is that a pretty stellar line-up of horses has been assembled for the Arqana Breeze-up Sale. The only thing they can't agree on is which horse is likely to top the sale. We'll know that by Saturday evening, and it is...

The lure of winning top-level dirt races in America has prompted the owners of Missed The Cut (Quality Road) to transfer the Royal Ascot winner from Newmarket trainer George Boughey to John Sadler's California-based barn. Missed The Cut propelled Boughey onto the big stage when landing the Golden Gates S. Handicap at the royal meeting last year but disappointed as a 13-8 favorite when only managing fourth behind Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G3 Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia when last seen.  A decision was made shortly after...

12th-Santa Anita, $75,888, Alw, 4-8, (NW1$X), 3yo/up, f/m, 1m (off turf), 1:37.10, ft, 6 lengths. ANCIENT PEACE (f, 3, War Front--Deceptive Vision {GSW & GISP-Can, GSW-USA, $501,441}, by A.P. Indy), off the board in her one-mile turf debut at Del Mar last December, graduated by a front-running 4 1/4 lengths going that same distance over the Santa Anita lawn Dec. 30 for Mike Ryan and trainer Graham Motion, just days before selling for $650,000 to Travis Boersma's Boardshorts Stables at this year's Keeneland January sale. Ryan had purchased the well-bred...

7th-Santa Anita, $72,500, Alw (NW1$X)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 3-27, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:22.07, ft, 2 lengths. ANYWHO (f, 3, Bolt d'Oro--Fancy and Flashy {SP}, by Zensational) , making her first start in the Hronis Racing colors, took her record to a perfect two-for-two with a determined victory at Santa Anita Monday. The 9-2 shot prompted the pace of longshot Liberal Lady (Mor Spirit), quickened on the bend to challenge the pacesetter and grabbed the lead into the stretch. She shrugged off favored Coffee in Bed (Curlin) down the lane and sailed...

As noted by colleague Bill Finley earlier in the week, we've just passed the 50th anniversary of Secretariat's sophomore debut. Yet even two years ago hardly anyone had heard of an unraced son of Tapit, meanwhile acclaimed by many as the best American Thoroughbred since. Okay, so he had been a seven-figure yearling; and everyone who had participated in his education knew that he was something special. In fact, John Sadler was so aware of the impending responsibility that he was saying nothing. For one thing, if people had any...

North America's richest horse Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) is among the nine equine finalists for the 2023 National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame class. Additionally, six trainers and one jockey account for the 16 total individuals who will make up the ballot, which will be chosen by the Museum's Hall of Fame Nominating Committee. The other finalists are Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision), California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), Game On Dude (Awesome Again), Havre de Grace (Saint Liam), Kona Gold (Java Gold), Lady Eli (Divine Park), Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), and...

Flightline not only garnered the Older Dirt Male Eclipse Award, but his impressive performances throughout 2022 earned him the right at this coveted prize—Horse of the Year. FLIGHTLINE We may never see another one quite like him again. Crowned as Longines World's Best Racehorse in London last week, Flightline, to absolutely no one's surprise, added Horse of the Year and champion older dirt male honors at Thursday evening's Eclipse Awards. The unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' ran to his unworldly reputation and then some by concluding his six-for-six career with a...

Malathaat and Flightline finished their careers in style at the Breeders' Cup that led to their crowning as the most-talented older female and male in North America. MALATHAAT A star every step of the way, Malathaat hails from Barbara Banke's stellar Stonestreet program out of a second-generation Grade I winner by a two-time Horse of the Year turned elite sire. In a feat for the ages, Stonestreet bred all three finalists in this division, while Godolphin did the same in the male turf division. Malathaat brought seven figures as a...

Combatant (Scat Daddy--Border Dispute, by Boundary) was represented by his first foal when Sadie's Song (Unbridled's Song) produced a filly by the late Grade I winner at Waldorf Farm Jan. 21. The filly was bred by McConnell Racing. Combatant won the 2020 GI Santa Anita H. and was second in that year's GII San Pasqual S. in the colors of Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler. He was also second in the 2018 GIII Southwest S. and third in that year's GII Rebel S. After standing his first season at...

With the 52nd Annual Eclipse Awards in Palm Beach, Fla. less than a month away, the votes will be cast by the media and other important officials until Jan. 3, as Thoroughbred racing aims to honor its best. The Thoroughbred Daily News Staff that are members of the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters (NTWAB) submitted their selections this week and here is a rundown of the results from some of the categories, along with their 'strongest vote.' Bill Horse of the Year: Flightline 3-Year-Old Male: Taiba 3-Year-Old Filly: Nest 2-Year-Old...

Lexington, KY - While the Flightline connections have been busy at the Keeneland November Sale assembling a powerhouse group of mares to send to their new stallion, the superstar himself has been settling into his new home at Lane's End Farm. 'TDN Rising Star' Flightline (Tapit - Feathered, by Indian Charlie) arrived at the Versailles-based breeding operation less than 24 hours after he cemented his place in history in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Accompanied by John Sadler's assistant and exercise rider Juan Leyva and barn foreman Cesar Aguilar,...

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley Winning Breeders' Cup races is supposed to be hard. Doesn't Charlie Appleby know that? The Breeders' Cup annually brings together the best trainers in the U.S. and many of the best in Europe. Wayne Lukas has won the most races, 20. Bob Baffert is next with 18. Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher are always forces. Aidan O'Brien brings a small army to the Breeders' Cup every year and has 16 winners to show for it, including three this year. But Appleby stands alone....