TDN Weekend December 2016 Issue 9
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1075818
e v erything," Kosta said, about the mat- uration Accelerate showed between his 4-year-old campaign and last year. "He seemed to really step up, and he became the leader of the barn all of a sudden. He puffed out his chest, and he seemed to be a different animal." Helping Sadler shake off his Breeders' Cup hoodoo is something not lost on Kosta, who describes their relationship in familial terms, strengthened by their many similarities—in age, in Pasadena upbring- ing, and in personal values. "We're both from very humble beginnings, and I think we just have very common backgrounds when it comes to how we treat other peo- ple," Hronis said. "There's no question he's very much part of the Hronis family, and we feel very much part of the Sadler fam- ily. He knows everything there is to know. We're going to turn him into a grape grow- er like he's turning me into a horseman." It's no surprise, then, that Sadler has been the Hronis brothers' sole and only handler. What is surprising, however, is how this has developed at a time when owner-trainer fidelity seems ever more transactional—ever more predicated upon instantaneous results and pop-culture ce- lebrity. The Hronis approach, therefore, harkens back to a gilded era in racing, of families steeped in the traditions that fer- tilized this sport's roots. Patience. Fealty. Good ole' fashioned horsemanship. "We support him in any way we can to help him be successful, and let him do his job," said Hronis, of Sadler. "If you interview John, he'll tell you that." So, does Sadler agree? "You never have to worry about being second-guessed—you can really follow your instincts," Sadler confirmed, about the latitude he now enjoys. "Sometimes, it's hard to explain why you do certain