From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2024) — Kings River Knight, a winner of three straight California-bred stakes and five overall in 15 starts, tests open company Saturday in a $69,000 second-level allowance/optional claimer at a mile on turf. He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for trainer John Sadler.
Kings River Knight was slated to run in Monday’s Tiznow Stakes for statebreds at a mile on dirt, but that plan fell through when the card was canceled due to heavy rain. Sadler audibled to Saturday’s fifth race, which also attracted a pair of geldings dropping out of graded stakes in Cathkin Peak (3-1) and Great King (5-1).
Kings River Knight’s current win streak includes the E.B. Johnston at a mile on dirt at Los Alamitos last September, the California Flag Handicap on the hillside turf course in October and most recently the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles here Jan. 13.
“He was training to run on Monday. He’s ready to go,” Sadler said.
Jockey Juan Hernandez rode King River Knight in his three most recent stakes wins and will again be in the irons Saturday.
Kings River Knight is a 6-year-old gelding by Acclimation. Bred by Old English Rancho, he sports a sparkling record of 8-5-0 in 14 starts with $536,010 in earnings for owner The Ellwood Johnston Trust, Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, LLC, and Kenneth A. Tevelde.
“It’s pretty good to have this condition for a horse as accomplished as he is,” Sadler said.
Post time for Saturday’s fifth race is scheduled for 2:29 p.m. PT. The field in post position order: Cathkin Peak, Antonio Fresu (3-1); Silver Surfer, Kazushi Kimura (12-1); Great King, Frankie Dettori (5-1); Lincoln Hawk, Victor Espinoza (8-1); Kings River Knight, Juan Hernandez (9-5); Carmelita’s Man, Tiago Pereira (4-1); Zoffarelli, Hector Berrios (6-1).