Resurgent Johannes repeats in BC WAYI City of Hope Mile

Turning the page on a forgettable comeback at Saratoga, Johannes rebounded at his beloved Santa Anita in Saturday’s $200,500 City of Hope Mile (G2). The 1-5 favorite unleashed his trademark late kick to defend his title successfully, and in the process, secured a fee-paid spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

The City of Hope Mile was one of four graded turf stakes on the Goodwood (G1) undercard. Gold Phoenix went last to first in the $201,000 John Henry Turf Championship (G2), while Reef Runner prevailed in the $201,500 Eddie D (G2), and Innovative got up late in the $103,500 John C. Harris (G3).

City of Hope Mile (G2)

CUYATHY’s homebred Johannes was by far the class of the field in the City of Hope Mile. Runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, and a Grade 1-winning millionaire, the Tim Yakteen pupil also brought a perfect 7-for-7 record over the Santa Anita turf into his title defense. 

But his 2025 campaign had hardly gone according to plan. Sidelined following his victory in last December’s San Gabriel (G2), Johannes had a rough reintroduction when ninth in the Aug. 2 Fourstardave (G1) at Saratoga. The son of Nyquist needed to reassert himself as a Breeders’ Cup contender, and the City of Hope Mile was the ideal place to get back in business.

Johannes didn’t have a perfectly smooth passage here either, but it didn’t matter. A bit keen in the hands of regular pilot Umberto Rispoli, he had to tap on the brakes when the pace slackened ahead of him down the backstretch.

Front-running Zio Jo, who rattled off the opening quarter in :22.70, slowed the tempo through the half in :47.47. Final Boss was lapped alongside, but Cabo Spirit was content to wait in a stalking third.

When Cabo Spirit made his bid on the far turn, taking command by the six-furlong mark in 1:11.60, Johannes followed in his wake. The defending champion accelerated in the stretch and drove 1 1/4 lengths clear in 1:34.13 on the firm course.

“The pace was slow,” Rispoli recapped, “but I didn’t want to take any chances to go on the inside. The speed map for me today was different. Mike (Smith on Cabo Spirit) is a smart rider, and I wanted to sit behind Cabo…I had to decide what to do based on what the guy in front is doing. 

“Johannes won with minimum effort, and we got the job done.”

Cabo Spirit held second by a head from the closing Almendares, who nearly replicated the exacta from the 2024 City of Hope. Next came Zio Jo, Scoobie Quando, and Final Boss. 

Johannes has bankrolled $1,278,359 from his 15-9-1-1 record. Other than his victory in the 2024 Eddie Read (G2) at Del Mar, his major wins have come at Santa Anita. Johannes’ first stakes coups came in the 2023 Baffle S. and Pasadena S. during his truncated sophomore campaign. He added last year’s Shoemaker Mile (G1), American (G3), and San Gabriel, along with the City of Hope. 

Johannes’ repeat puts him on course for another crack at the Mile. 

“The horse didn’t look exhausted in the winner’s circle,” Yakteen said. “He wasn’t blowing, and he’s got the flow going. Five weeks is great timing. We’ll do a couple of maintenance drills and one other work, and we’ll be ready to go. This horse is a trainer’s dream. He makes the whole team look good.”

John Henry Turf Championship (G2)

Rispoli made it a quickfire graded double aboard Gold Phoenix. Coming off an amazing fourth straight Del Mar H. (G2) win, the Phil D’Amato veteran was breaking through with his first John Henry trophy. Gold Phoenix had placed third in the 2022 John Henry and fifth in the past two years. 

Bettors therefore sent Gold Phoenix off as the second choice at 3-2 on Saturday, giving slight favoritism to Stay Hot, the Del Mar ‘Cap runner-up. But the Del Mar form carried over to Santa Anita, and Stay Hot had to play second fiddle again.

Under patient handling, Gold Phoenix was anchored last behind a rollicking pace. Balladeer, the 2023 John Henry hero, winged it through fractions of :23.47, :46.60, 1:10.93, and 1:35.42. By that point, Balladeer was coming back to the field, and Spycatcher was on the premises to pounce into the lane.

But Gold Phoenix was knifing through the pack into contention. Rispoli delivered him at the ideal time to collar Spycatcher while getting the jump on Stay Hot. Gold Phoenix rolled by 1 1/4 lengths and polished off 1 1/4 miles in 1:58.74.

“Umberto made the right moves,” D’Amato said. “He pressed the button at the top of the lane, and we got the job done.”

Stay Hot snatched runner-up honors by a neck from Spycatcher. Mondego, Balladeer, Dicey Mo Chara, and Rastaman Vibe rounded out the order under the wire. 

Campaigned by Agave Racing Stable, Little Red Feather Racing, Sterling Stables, and Marsha Naify, Gold Phoenix has compiled a record of 28-10-3-5, $2,152,587. The Belardo gelding also sports victories in the 2023 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) and Eddie Read, as well as the 2024 Charles Whittingham (G2). 

Notably, Gold Phoenix finished fourth in the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1). The Irish-bred seven-year-old promises to run his race again in the Nov. 1 renewal back at Del Mar.

“My horse is in a good zone right now,” D’Amato said. “We’ll give him two works here and then ship him down to Del Mar. We will give it a go (in the Breeders’ Cup Turf). He’s coming off two wins in a row now, and he’s got extra confidence now. We’ll run with the Euros.”

Eddie D (G2) and John C. Harris (G3)

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong’s Reef Runner was controversially disqualified and placed second in the Green Flash H. (G3) last out, but the Florida homebred gained compensation in the Eddie D. 

There was still some drama pre-race, when his connections had to scramble for a replacement jockey. Regular pilot Paco Lopez was just benched for six months by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, a decision that has prompted vigorous reaction itself. 

Armando Ayuso ultimately ended up getting the plum pick-up mount aboard Reef Runner. Despite the late notice, he engineered a masterful last-to-first ride, sparking memories of the race’s legendary namesake, Hall of Famer Eddie Delahoussaye.

Yellow Card initially appeared to be working out the ideal trip on the downhill course. Tracking pacesetter Mucho Del Oro through splits of :21.74 and :44.03, Yellow Card got the split turning for home and asserted in midstretch.

Ayuso followed Yellow Card’s trail, and Reef Runner was relentless in hunting him down late. A half-length on top at the wire, the David Fawkes charge completed about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:11.65 and returned $13.

“He is a really neat horse,” Fawkes said, “and he did everything perfect. He always does.

“I let Paco (Lopez talk to Ayuso). He has won a lot of races on the horse, and Paco is a good friend of mine. He obviously had the right instructions. 

“I was getting a little nervous around the eighth pole,” Fawkes added, “but he really dug in. With a little moisture on the surface today, I was a little worried about that, but he came through for us.”

Another three lengths astern in third came Sorrento Sky, followed by Mucho Del Oro, Nesso’s Lastharrah, Beyond Brilliant, 8-5 favorite First Peace, and Kale’s Angel. 

Reef Runner’s first official graded stakes win improved his resume to 20-6-5-5, $502,405. The gelding by The Big Beast has been a mainstay in turf sprints at Gulfstream Park. His score in the 2024 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint actually came on the Tapeta. He placed in four turf stakes in his home state, including a near-miss in the March 8 Silks Run S.

As a five-furlong turf aficionado, Reef Runner appreciated the conditions in Del Mar’s Green Flash, only to be demoted in the stewards’ room. But he could get even richer compensation back at that course and distance in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1).

The stakes action concluded with the John C. Harris for sophomore fillies, also over the downhill turf. The contest was formerly known as the Unzip Me, in honor of a prolific runner associated with Harris Farms. After the passing of the farm’s legendary operator, it was rechristened to commemorate him. 

D’Amato celebrated a graded double courtesy of Innovative, who has ownership in common with Gold Phoenix. Co-owned by Little Red Feather Racing and Sterling Stables, she made her stakes debut while cutting back to a sprint for the first time. The 12.70-1 shot swooped late on the outside with Ricardo Gonzalez to deny Lee’s Baby Girl in 1:12.98.

Lee’s Baby Girl almost pulled off a wire job at odds of 26-1. Warming checked in third in the blanket finish, with Favor to You and even-money favorite Casalu rounding out the Super High 5.