A mainstay on the Southern California circuit since the 1980s, John Sadler can be called the local boy who made good.

Hailing from the region, he first gained prominence with a filly named Melair. A Cal-bred filly with a gift for tremendous speed, Melair was one of the stars of the 1986 Hollywood Park spring/summer meeting. She went undefeated in five starts at the venue, with her biggest win coming in the Silver Screen Stakes against Preakness Stakes champion Snow Chief. Her efforts netted her Top Cal-bred Three-Year-Old Female honors from the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.