Cabo Spirit sets the pace and gamely holds off favorite El Potente to win the Grade II City Of Hope Mile and secure a bid for the Breeders’ Cup Mile

CABO SPIRIT SETS THE PACE AND GAMELY HOLDS OFF FAVORITE EL POTENTE TO WIN THE GRADE II CITY OF HOPE MILE AND SECURE A BID FOR THE BREEDERS’ CUP MILE

The 7-year-old gelding was ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith and is trained by George Papaprodromou

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 26, 2026)—Veteran millionaire gelding Cabo Spirit set the pace under Hall of Famer Mike Smith and gamely fended off a late charge from favorite El Potente to win the Grade II, $200,000 City of Hope Mile Saturday at Santa Anita and secure a berth to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In what was a duel in the final furlong of two highly accomplished 7-year-olds in the final furlong, Cabo Spirit (7-1) edged El Potente (2-1) by a head on the wire. It was another 3 ¼ lengths back to King of Gosford (2-1) in third followed by Irish Aces (5-1) and Detain (2-1).

“He is such a cool horse,” Smith said. “He doesn’t win all the time but he always runs a winning race. It’s great to see him end up on this side of it because so many times he’s second or third.”

Trained by George Papaprodromou for owner Kretz Racing, Cabo Spirit won in a time of 1:33.06 after setting fractions of 23.47, 46.91 and 1:10.36 for six furlongs.

“I got away with a very easy first quarter for him,” Smith said. “I thought I could get brave down the backside and let him run a little bit. Make people kind of get moving, I was able to give him a good breather around the turn.”

El Potente, ridden by Hector Berrios for trainer Dan Blacker, saved ground on the rail throughout while stalking the Cabo Spirit but could not catch the winner late. In the stretch drive, Cabo Spirit was out near the center of the course while El Potente remained on the rail

“That’s just him down the lane, he likes to, like a little kid, put his head out off to the side and run out,” Smith said. “I can keep him from it, but when I do it just slows him down. So I kind of give a little, take a little all the way to the wire. He deserves the win.”

This was Cabo Spirit’s sixth graded stakes win and seventh stakes win overall in 45 starts. It pushed his earnings to more than $1.5 million. By Pioneerof the Nile. Cabo Spirit previously ran in the Breeders’ Cup in 2024 when, after winning the GII John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita going 1 ¼ miles, finished 12th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.

This was Cabo Spirit’s first win since December when scoring in the GIII San Gabriel at Santa Anita. Most recently in the GII Del Mar Mile on Aug. 22, Cabo Spirit also set the pace but was passed late by winner King of Gosford, runner-up El Potente and Detain to finish fourth by just a half-length.

“He’s always a good horse that tries,” Papaprodromou said. “Unfortunately, he got beat on the wire the last couple of starts. He’s all heart and that showed in how he won the race today.”

This was Papaprodromou’s first time winning the City of Hope Mile.

Cabo Spirit paid $16.40, $6.40 and $4.00. El Potente returned $3.60 and $2.60. King of Gosford, ridden by Umberto Rispoli for trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $2.80.

GRADE II, CITY OF HOPE MILE STAKES QUOTES

JOCKEY QUOTES

MIKE SMITH, CABO SPIRIT, WINNER: “He is such a cool horse. He doesn’t win all the time but he always runs a winning race. It’s great to see him end up on this side of it because so many times he’s second or third.

“I got away with a very easy first quarter for him. I thought I could get brave down the backside and let him run a little bit. Make people kind of get moving, I was able to give him a good breather around the turn. But that’s just him down the lane, he likes to, like a little kid, put his head out off to the side and run out. I can keep him from it, but when I do it just slows him down. So I kind of give a little, take a little all the way to the wire. He deserves the win.”

TRAINER QUOTES

GEORGE PAPAPRODROMOU, CABO SPIRIT, WINNER: “He’s always a good horse that tries. Unfortunately, he got beat on the wire the last couple of starts. He’s all heart and that showed in how he won the race today.”

NOTES: The winning owner is Kretz Racing, LLC.