True Valour prevails in a blanket finish to win City of Hope Mile

Returning from a nearly nine-month layoff, Irish-bred True Valour rallied from off the pace and outlasted multiple rivals in a thrilling stretch duel to win the $200,000 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday. 

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, True Valour saved ground while being unhurried in a strung out field that saw Kingly post a sharp opening half mile in :45.50. True Valour remained on the rail with cover on the second turn before angling out and just edging Restrainedvengence to complete a longshot filled exacta. 

True Valour, who was last seen winning the one-mile Thunder Road Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita in February for trainer Simon Callaghan, completed one mile in 1:32.82 and paid $35.80 for the upset. Favored Prince Earl, who won the Del Mar Mile (G2) in his previous start, was a close-up third. 

Callaghan said he ordered time off after that race due to some bone bruising.

"We felt we had him really fit today," the trainer said. "He was pretty fresh early, he pulled Drayden early, gave him a perfect ride, he sprint quick to the front and it worked out well. He needs to play his cards where they lay and Drayden certainly did that."

Callaghan said connections "might want to take a shot" at the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Mile back at Santa Anita, adding that "it’s here and he’s shown a pretty good affinity for the track as far as his last two races."