Grade 1 winner Johannes is getting close to first work of year

Grade 1 winner Johannes is nearing his first work of the year after spending more than two months on a Kentucky farm, trainer Tim Yakteen said Sunday.

Johannes, who was an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding turf male of 2024, has been galloping daily at Santa Anita for the past several weeks. He was sent to Kentucky in January after he emerged from a win in the San Gabriel (G2) on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita with mild bone bruising.

“He’s coming back great,” Yakteen said. “We sent him out and gave him a little bit of ‘r and r.’ He’s been galloping and you’ll likely see him on the work tab towards the end of the month.”

The win in the San Gabriel capped a sparkling season for Johannes, a now 5-year-old horse by Nyquist. Johannes last year won five of his six starts, all graded stakes, including the Shoemaker Mile (G1). His lone defeat was a runner-up finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

Johannes could make his return at Del Mar this summer, though Yakteen noted “we don’t have our eye on any ball yet.

“Whenever he’s ready, he’s ready. He’ll tell us,” Yakteen added.

Owned and bred by Cuyathy, Johannes has an overall record of 13: 8-1-1 with $1,153,859 in earnings. As a 3-year-old, Johannes won two stakes, both at Santa Anita. Last year, in addition to the Shoemaker Mile and San Gabriel, Johannes won the American (G3) and City of Hope Mile (G2), both at Santa Anita, and the Eddie Read (G2) at Del Mar.

“It’s exciting to have him back,” Yakteen said.