Santa Anita: Cabo Spirit leads all the way in American Stakes

Veteran campaigner Cabo Spirit added to his millionaire bankroll Sunday when he earned a front-running victory under Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the Grade 3, $100,000 American Stakes for older horses going a two-turn mile on the turf at Santa Anita.

Trained by George Papaprodromou, Cabo Spirit (6-1) broke in front and immediately was pressed by King of Gosford, the 4-5 favorite who was making his 4-year-old debut for trainer Phil D’Amato. They would remain one-two all the way around the oval through fractions of 23.10, 47.31 and 1:11.05 for six furlongs.

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King of Gosford, with Flavien Prat aboard, was asked to engage Cabo Spirit entering the stretch but never really threatened. Cabo Spirit reached the eighth pole in 1:22.85 and crossed the wire with a time of 1:34.42 on the firm turf to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I asked him a little bit along the way,” Smith said. “I just stayed a little busy on him, because he was out there by himself, and I knew there some closers that could come at us in the last 100 to 50 yards. I just wanted to make sure I kept him focused.”

Runner-up King of Gosford had not started since winning the Mathis Mile (G2) for 3-year-olds on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. He finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of third-place finisher Endlessly (9-2), who was making his first start since July for trainer Michael McCarthy.

This was the second consecutive race Smith rode Cabo Spirit. In last month’s Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita, they nearly pulled off a 31-1 upset in similar fashion. They set the pace that day and had the lead deep in the stretch but ultimately were overtaken to finish three-quarters of a length in back of winner Formidable Man.

“He ran a great race last time, and I thought if I could just get that same effort out of him, he might be tough,” Smith said.

A 6-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, Cabo Spirit improved to 33: 6-3-7 with $1,134,336 in earnings for owner Kretz Racing. This was his fifth stakes win and fourth at the graded level.

As a newly turned 3-year-old in January 2022, Cabo Spirit earned his first stakes win in the Eddie Logan at Santa Anita. That year he would add victories in the La Jolla Handicap (G3) at Del Mar and Twilight Derby (G2) at Santa Anita.

After a winless 2023 campaign, Cabo Spirit last year won the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) on California Crown day at Santa Anita.

“He was nice and relaxed, and we got off with an easy lead,” Papaprodromou said. “Mike rode a great race. He is a really nice horse. Since we gelded him, he is much more relaxed in his races. Hopefully we can win some more races with him.”

Cabo Spirit paid $15.20, $4.60 and $3.20. King of Gosford returned $2.40 and $2.10. Endlessly, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, paid $3.40.