Sadler Has Full Serrano Ready for Pacific Classic

Trainer John Sadler unveiled a potential star for the future at this summer's Del Mar meeting with expensive juvenile Inshallah generating plenty of buzz for a debut victory. But one of his stable's established stars, 2024 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Full Serrano (ARG), is in focus this week as he is entered in the seaside oval's signature race, the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) Aug. 22. The Pacific Classic is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're in, offering an automatic, fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Sadler already owns four wins in the Pacific Classic—with Accelerate (2018), Higher Power (2019), Tripoli (2021), and Flightline (2022). Both Accelerate and Flightline went on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs and Keeneland, respectively. Flightline turned in one of the most memorable performances in the history of the Pacific Classic, devastating the field by 19 1/4 lengths and finishing the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59.28—just missing Candy Ride (ARG)'s track record of 1:59.11 established in the 2003 Pacific Classic—despite never being asked. Retiring unbeaten as the 2022 Horse of the Year, Flightline's first crop has been highly anticipated and, fittingly, Sadler looks to have one of the best in his barn. New York-bred Inshallah, out of 2017 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) winner Bar of Gold, topped this year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic May 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale when purchased for $2.1 million by KAS Stables. The colt, who was immediately shipped to Sadler in California, quickly got on the official work tab, and progressed steadily to his Aug. 15 debut. Sent away as the 7-10 favorite, Inshallah won by 1 1/2 lengths while geared down late in the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race. "What I've seen in general with all of the Flightlines is whatever they do going short, they'll do even better going long," Sadler said prior to the race. "We have several of them and they all have great airways like their father had, an A-plus throat, and they all have a lot of gas in the engine." Sadler said the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity (G1) Sept. 6 is "not off the table" for Inshallah. But for now, his focus is on the 7-year-old veteran Full Serrano, who has relished Del Mar since making his United States debut here two years ago, since arriving from his native Argentina. Running in the colors of Hronis Racing, which co-owned Flightline, Full Serrano won an allowance optional claiming race Aug. 3, 2024, at Del Mar, then was second by half a length in the Pacific Classic. He cut back for a 1 1/2-length victory in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile that November at Del Mar, besting a large and accomplished field of 13. An injury in December 2024 curtailed Full Serrano's campaign, and he did not get back to the races until the following September, with another allowance optional claiming win at Del Mar, followed by a runner-up effort in the Goodwood Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park. He returned for the 2025 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar, but finished fifth after getting in tight on the first turn, his only off-the-board effort at this track. Full Serrano has been on the road for his two starts this year, both deceptively good efforts. He was third in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park, finishing behind multimillionaires Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio. He returned in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) March 28 at the eponymous track. A stumbling start left him last of seven, and he came seven wide into the lane to finish fourth. Off those efforts, Sadler planned to freshen Full Serrano and prepare him for the Del Mar meet. The freshening turned longer than expected when Full Serrano was scratched the morning of the San Diego Handicap (G2) July 18 with a foot issue. He was not on the shelf for long after missing that traditional prep race for the Pacific Classic. Full Serrano was back on the work tab July 26. He turned in a strong 5-furlong work that was second best of 63 at the distance Aug. 2, and has followed up with two strong 6-furlong moves.