Santa Anita undercard: City of Hope Mile features Johannes

A year ago, turf star Johannes rolled to a dominating victory in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita en route to being named an Eclipse Award finalist as North America’s outstanding turf horse. On Saturday, he’ll look for a similar result in the 2025 edition of the one-mile turf event, which is an automatic qualifier to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

The City of Hope Mile is one of four graded-stakes races on Saturday's card at Santa Anita. The feature is the Grade 1, $300,000 Goodwood at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt. The card also includes a pair of graded sprints on the downhill turf course: the Grade 2, $200,000 Eddie D. for horses age 3 and up and the $100,000 John C. Harris (G3) for sophomore fillies.

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Trained by Tim Yakteen, Johannes won last year’s City of Hope Mile by 1 1/4 lengths under Umberto Rispoli as the heavy 4-5 favorite. It was one of five graded stakes wins in 2024 for Johannes. Following the City of Hope Mile, Johannes would suffer his only defeat of the year when a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile behind More Than Looks.

Since his superlative 2024 campaign, Johannes has made just one start, which came on Aug. 2 at Saratoga in the Fourstardave (G1) at a mile on grass. Sent off the 9-5 favorite, Johannes was rank early and never a factor, finishing ninth in a field of 10.

Johannes will look for a bounce-back effort Saturday now having that recent race under his belt. The 5-year-old horse by Nyquist will break from post three with Rispoli again in the irons. Owned and bred by Cuyathy, Johannes is 14: 8-1-1 with $1,158,359 in earnings.

Among those looking to upend Johannes are veteran graded stakes winner Cabo Spirit and Almendares.

Cabo Spirit has been racing mainly at a mile on turf this year after competing in longer races last year for trainer George Papaprodromou and owner Kretz Racing. In April, Cabo Spirit won the American (G3) at a mile on grass at Santa Anita. He most recently checked in third after setting the pace in the Del Mar Mile (G2) on Aug. 30. At this time last year, Cabo Spirit won the John Henry Turf Championship going 1 1/4 miles on grass at Santa Anita, which earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf where he was never a factor.

A 6-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, Cabo Spirit is 36: 6-4-9 with $1,256,336 in earnings. He’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons.

Almendares, trained by Phil D’Amato, finished ahead of Cabo Spirit when second in the Del Mar Mile. A 5-year-old gelding by Havana Grey, the European import is seeking his first graded stakes win for owners CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Gevertz et al. Almendares has a record of 18: 5-5-3 with $445,695 in earnings, which includes two years racing in Ireland. He’ll be ridden by Antonio Fresu.

Gold Phoenix, Stay Hot renew rivalry in John Henry Turf Championship

The John Henry Turf Championship is contested at 1 1/4 miles on grass and is a potential stepping stone to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Looming large in the lineup are Gold Phoenix and Stay Hot, who were separated by just a neck when finishing one-two in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) going 1 3/8 miles on Aug. 30 at Del Mar.

Gold Phoenix is trained by Phil D’Amato for owners Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Marsha Naify et al. His narrow victory over Stay Hot provided him with an unprecedented fourth consecutive win in the Del Mar Handicap. He’ll have regular rider Umberto Rispoli aboard on Saturday.

Stay Hot is a 4-year-old Summer Front colt trained by Peter Eurton for owners Burns Racing, Exline-Border Racing, Estate of Brereton C. Jones and William Dan Huddock. In two starts this year prior to the Del Mar Handicap, Stay Hot won the Texas Turf Classic at Lone Star Park in June and was third in the Eddie Read (G2) at Del Mar in July. He’ll be ridden by Mike Smith, who was also aboard in the Del Mar Handicap.

Also in the field is Balladeer, who won the 2023 John Henry when going gate-to-wire under Victor Espinoza. Trained by George Papaprodromou for owners Calvin Nguyen and Joey C. Train, Balladeer is winless in 12 starts since that effort.

First Peace chases repeat in the Eddie D Stakes

The Eddie D is contested at about 6 1/2 furlongs on Santa Anita’s unique hillside turf course. The field includes last year’s winner, First Peace. Trained by Mark Glatt for owners Rancho Temescal and Red Baron’s Barn, First Peace had been sidelined since that effort until finally resurfacing in the Green Flash (G3) at Del Mar on Aug. 30. He was never a factor and finished 11th of 12.

Another runner exiting the five-furlong Green Flash on turf is Reef Runner, who crossed the wire first but was disqualified for interference shortly after the break. Reef Runner, conditioned by eastern-based trainer David Fawkes, has remained in Southern California since the Green Flash to prepare for the Eddie D. He’ll be ridden by Paco Lopez, who was also aboard in the Green Flash.

Beyond Brilliant finished one length behind Reef Runner in third in the Green Flash. He is trained by John Shirreffs for owner C R K Stable. Ricky Gonzalez, who rode Beyond Brilliant for the first time in the Green Flash, will again be in the irons.

Stakes winner Casalu leads field of 13 in John C. Harris

For 3-year-old fillies at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course, this race was renamed the John C. Harris in honor of the late titan of California racing and breeding who died in July at the age of 81. It was previously the Unzip Me Stakes, named after the multiple graded stakes winner and hillside turf course specialist who Harris co-bred and campaigned with partners.

The first-ever John C. Harris Stakes has attracted a wide-open field of 13 with any number of contenders. The lineup features Casalu, who is the only stakes winner on grass in the lineup. Trained by Bob Baffert, Casalu won the Sweet Life Stakes in February in her only previous try on the unique hillside turf course.

Coming west for trainer Graham Motion is Warming, a daughter of Global Campaign owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. She will be cutting back in distance and getting class relief after finishing fifth in both the Belmont Oaks (G1) going 1 1/8 miles in July at Saratoga and the Lake Placid (G2) at one mile in August at Saratoga. She has lured the services of Umberto Rispoli for her local debut.