Johannes Caps Off Big Year With Win In Grade II, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes

JOHANNES CAPS OFF BIG YEAR WITH WIN IN GRADE II, $200,000 SAN GABRIEL STAKES GOING 1 1/8 MILES ON TURF THURSDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (Dec. 26, 2024)—Johannes punctuated a potential Eclipse Award-worthy season with a rallying victory under Umberto Rispoli in the Grade II, $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on turf Thursday on opening day at Santa Anita.

Johannes, who got a ground-saving trip while tracking the leaders, was swung wide for clear racing room entering the stretch and ran down both Mi Hermano Ramon (9-1) and Seal Team (6-1) to win by three-quarters of a length. It was Johannes’s fifth win in six starts this year. His only loss was a runner-up finish in last month’s Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar.

“With a horse like him, it's not possible to panic, you know, you press the button and in three strides, you're right up there,” Rispoli said. “You just have to manage how to get to the wire because once you get the lead, he try to wait for other horses. But, you never panic with him. Once you see the daylight, he goes. It doesn't matter.”

Trained by Tim Yakteen, Johannes won in a final time of 1:46.50 following fractions of 23.49, 47.07, 1:11.14 and 1:34.91. He is now 7-for-7 lifetime at Santa Anita. “In my heart, he is a true champion,” Yakteen said of Johannes’s Eclipse Award candidacy. “I hope others view it that way.”

A 4-year-old colt by Nyquist, Johannes is owned by Debby and Joe McCloskey’s CUYATHY LLC. His previous wins this year came in the GI Shoemaker Mile, GII City of Hope Mile and GIII American, all at Santa Anita, and the GII Eddie Read at Del Mar. Johannes’s overall record now stands at 13: 8-1-1 with $1,233,859 in earnings.

“The horse means everything to us,” Joe McCloskey said. “He’s our first foal from our broodmare Cuyathy, so it has been a heck of a ride.”

Johannes paid $2.60, $2.20 and $2.10. Mi Hermano Ramon, trained by Mark Glatt, paid $4.80 and $2.20. Mi Hermano Ramon was ridden by replacement jockey Luis Saez after scheduled rider Hector Berrios took off all his mounts Thursday. Seal Team, ridden by Flavien Prat for trainer Richard Mandella, paid $2.60.

According to the connections, Johannes will now target the Grade I, $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25.