Sadler has a shot at meet title

Usually one of the more consistent trainers, John Sadler has been exceptionally hot during Hollywood Park’s autumn meet.

Sadler has won with 14 of 40 starters in Inglewood, putting him in the thick of the trainers’ race.

With slightly more than two weeks left, he is third, two winners behind defending champion Jeff Mullins and one behind Doug O’Neill, even though he has started fewer horses than either.

Sadler, who won a division of the Generous with the improving 2-year-old Warning Zone eight days ago, is hoping to add another stakes victory today when he sends out Zanzibar in the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood.

A Grade III at six furlongs, the Underwood attracted five others, including Declan’s Moon, on the comeback, and multiple stakes winner Siren Lure, looking to rebound from a lackluster performance in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint four weeks ago.

Owned by Stonestreet Stables LLC, Zanzibar, a 5-year-old Argentine-bred son of Luhuk, won the first three starts of his career in South America, but is winless in five U.S. races.

In his best U.S. performance, a year ago, he was second, half a length behind Captain Squire in the Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap, a Grade I, at Santa Anita.

Sidelined afterward because of a hock injury, Zanzibar returned in the 2006 Ancient Title and finished last, nearly 13 lengths behind Bordonaro.

He has trained well since, however, over Hollywood Park’s Cushion Track. In his two most recent workouts, Zanzibar went six furlongs in a best-of-the-morning 1:12 3/5 Nov. 22 and followed five days later with five furlongs in 59 4/5 .

“He’s doing well,” Sadler said. “The works are as good as they look on paper. It’s his second race after a layup and he’s done really well over this track. When he ran at Santa Anita, horses couldn’t close at all that day. I think he will run well.”

Obviously, Cushion Track has agreed with the Sadler stable.

“I came over here [in September] when the track opened for training,” Sadler said. “After watching horses train on it, I thought, ‘This is going to be pretty nice.’ I liked it right away.”

*

After one of his horses tested positive recently, for the second time, for an excess level of carbon dioxide, trainer Mike Mitchell has hired attorney Neil Papiano to represent him.

Mitchell said he and Papiano probably would meet with Hollywood Park General Manager Eual Wyatt and Rick Arthur, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board, on Friday.

“I’m going to fight this,” said Mitchell after Dynout, who finished second, beaten by a nose in the sixth race Nov. 19, tested over the limit for TCO2.

*

[email protected]