by Bob Ehalt

No one will have a harder time saying goodbye to Hollywood Park than John Sadler.

Having wrapped up the training title with 30 winners at the 60-day meet, Sadler added an exclamation point to his stellar run by sending out Warning Zone to capture the $150,000 Sunset Handicap (G2) Sunday on the final day of the Inglewood, California, track’s spring-summer meet.

“It’s been extremely gratifying,” said the 51-year-old Sadler, who claimed his first Southern California training title at Hollywood’s 2007 autumn meet. “It’s all starting to hit me today.”

Warning Zone enjoyed a perfect trip in taking the 1 1/2-mile grass stakes by one length over 1.30-to-1 favorite Cedar Mountain.

Positioned in midpack during the early stages, Warning Zone was angled to the rail on the final turn by jockey Mike Smith and quickly moved into contention.

Once the tiring pacesetting Boule d’Or (Ire) drifted out slightly in the stretch, Warning Zone took full advantage of his ground-saving trip, surging to the front shortly after the eighth pole.

Cedar Mountain, meanwhile, was forced to tip four wide in early stretch and was unable to run down Warning Zone, who covered the distance in 2:26.95 on the firm turf course.

Chilean Group 1 winner Porfido (Chi) was third, a half-length behind Cedar Mountain.

A four-year-old Chester House colt owned by Rising Sun Racing Stable, Warning Zone snapped a seven-race losing streak and posted just his second win since taking the Generous Stakes (G3) in November 2006.

Runner-up earlier this year in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita Park, Warning Zone’s earnings moved to $341,310 with the $97,200 winner’s share of the Sunset purse.

Bred in Virginia by Edward Evans, Warning Zone is out of the Storm Bird mare Migrate.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Bob Ehalt is a New York-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent