Stoney Fleece wears down Mike in Generous

Handsome Mike held on for second, and even-money favorite Battle Force was

third. Motown Men finished fourth with Devil in Disguise, Blue White Fire,

Major Magic and Got Even rounding out the

order of finish. Senor Rain was pulled up after bolting on the clubhouse turn and did

not finish.

Sadler claimed Stoney Fleece for $40,000 out of his debut maiden win at Del

Mar in July. In his first start for new connections, the bay captured a starter

allowance in August at the same venue, and suffered his first loss when fifth in the I'm Smokin' S.

in September. Stoney Fleece regained the winning thread when switched to turf

and stretched out to two turns for an entry-level allowance at Santa Anita. Last

time out on dirt, Stoney Fleece finished third in the California Cup

Juvenile. His career record now

sits at 6-4-0-1, with earnings of $156,680.

Bred in California by Joseph T. Alvarez III, the son of Decarchy brought a mere

$1,200 bid earlier this year in the Barretts January Mixed Sale. Stoney Fleece

is the youngest of 11 registered foals out of the Deputed Testamony mare Gold

Fleece. Herself trained by Sadler, she won the Grade 3 Buena Vista and finished

runner-up in the Grade 1 Gamely. Gold Fleece, also the dam of

Grade 3 winner Golden Rahy, comes from the family of multiple Grade 2 winner Ball Four

and current Grade 2-placed multiple stakes hero Populist Politics.

Sadler revealed that his connection with the dam prompted him to claim Stoney

Fleece.

"His mother was very good on grass. I ran her (Gold Fleece) here a mile and

an eighth in 1:45 and Toussaud beat her," Sadler said, referring to the 1993

Gamely.

"So I have some familiarity with the family. The other ones (siblings) got

sent to other trainers, but when this one was in for a tag ($40,000 maiden

claiming), it was like an old friend/family thing.

"I really claimed him for grass and he's two-for-two on turf. He's a nice

hard-knocking horse. He won the starter (allowance) right away and he's never

run a bad race. I wasn't surprised he was in for a tag because he's small. You

know, you take a chance.

"Gary (owner Barber) is at the San Diego Chargers game. His phone wasn't

working, so he called me from another phone and I gave him the call of the race

and he's really excited.

"I'd like to keep him on turf, but I won't rule out some of the

California-bred stakes coming up."