Photo:

Richard Steele / Eclipse Sportswire

Things look to be picking up for the John Sadler barn after what’s been a relatively quiet meet at Santa Anita.

On Sunday, Supa Speed, twice stakes-placed on turf, nearly took down the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel for 3-year-old fillies when racing on dirt for the first time. The daughter of Justify was beaten just a nose by Maysam after a thrilling stretch duel.

Looking ahead to Saturday, Sadler has a pair of notable runners in Alpha Bella, who goes in the Beholder Mile (G1), and Eagles Flight, who makes his much-anticipated return in the 10th race four weeks after being scratched from a similar first-level allowance at a mile.

First updating Supa Speed, Sadler reported all was well with the filly following her near-miss in the Santa Ysabel.

“She came out good. We didn’t get the win, but she ran great. We were happy with it,” said Sadler, who this year is again a finalist for induction into the Racing Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Supa Speed’s effort in the Santa Ysabel earned her 12 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks. Sadler said it’s possible she returns in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) on Feb. 5, but “we’ll look at everything. I need to talk to the owners about what we want to do.”

Supa Speed is owned by Flying Dutchman Breeding and Racing. In five previous starts, all on turf, Supa Speed was 5: 2-1-1, which included board hits in the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf in September and Blue Norther in December at Santa Anita.

For Sadler, the Santa Ysabel was his fourth straight runner-up finish in a graded stakes at the meet. Previously, For All Mankind finished second in the Palos Verdes (G2) on Feb. 15, Alpha Bella was second in the La Cañada (G3) on Jan. 19 and Anywho was second in the Las Cienegas (G3), also on Jan. 19. With 65 starters at the stand, Sadler has won six races with 15 seconds and 13 thirds.

In Saturday’s Beholder Mile, Alpha Bella will be seeking a graded-stakes breakthrough on dirt after three consecutive runner-up finishes. Before the La Cañada, Alpha Bella was second in both the Bayakoa (G3) in November at Del Mar and Zenyatta (G2) in September at Santa Anita.

A 5-year-old mare by Justify, Alpha Bella was initially entered in last Saturday’s Buena Vista (G2) on turf but was scratched in favor of the Beholder Mile. Alpha Bella was a graded-stakes winner on turf last year when trained by Todd Pletcher.

On Sunday, Alpha Bella signaled her readiness with a sharp four-furlong work in 47.0 seconds. It was the third-fastest of 69 works at the distance that day.

“She’s ready to go,” Sadler said. “All three of her seconds were nice races, and it would obviously be nice to get a Grade 1. Although it’s not a big field, there’s a lot of quality in it.”

Eagles Flight was scratched Feb. 2 because of a quarter crack. The 4-year-old colt by Curlin, who is a half-brother to undefeated 2022 horse of the year Flightline, has worked four times since, including a bullet five-furlong move in 59.0 seconds Feb. 24.

“It was just a routine quarter crack. We had to scratch, but he’s come back with four nice works. We’re looking forward to him running,” Sadler said.

Eagles Flight was a debut winner last May at Santa Anita. He resurfaced on Jan. 4 in a first-level allowance going a mile and finished second behind Mirahmadi, who returned to set the pace in last Saturday’s Santa Anita Handicap (G1) before fading to last.

Eagles Flight will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who was also aboard for his previous allowance try. He is tabbed as the 9-5 program favorite in a field of eight.

Post	Silks	Horse / Sire	Rating	Trainer / Jockey	Last start	Morn. line
1		Richi Practical Joke	6.73	Bob Baffert Antonio Fresu	3rd, 2025 Santa Monica G2	2-1
Last race		3rd, 2025 Santa Monica G2
2		Hoosier Philly Into Mischief	6.57	Tom Amoss Umberto Rispoli	3rd, 2025 Houston Ladies Classic G3	8-1
Last race		3rd, 2025 Houston Ladies Classic G3
3		Cavalieri Nyquist	6.93	Bob Baffert Juan Hernandez	1st, 2025 La Cañada G3	9-5
Last race		1st, 2025 La Cañada G3
4		Ultimate Authority Practical Joke	4.34	Tim Yakteen Ramon Vazquez	1st, SA, alw OC, 1/19/25 R10	15-1
Last race		1st, SA, alw OC, 1/19/25 R10
5		Tarifa Bernardini	7.24	Brad Cox Mike Smith	2nd, 2024 Falls City G3	3-1
Last race		2nd, 2024 Falls City G3
6		Alpha Bella Justify	6.60	John Sadler Hector Berrios	2nd, 2025 La Cañada G3	6-1
Last race		2nd, 2025 La Cañada G3