Johannes Goes Back-To-Back In Grade II, City Of Hope Mile With 1 ¼-Length Victory Saturday At Santa Anita

JOHANNES GOES BACK-TO-BACK IN GRADE II, CITY OF HOPE MILE WITH 1 ¼-LENGTH VICTORY SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

With the win, Johannes earns a fees-paid berth for a return trip to the Breeders’ Cup Mile Nov. 1 at Del Mar

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 27, 2025)—Johannes made it back-to-back wins in the Grade II, $200,000 City of Hope Mile Saturday at Santa Anita when rallying under Umberto Rispoli to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths.

Sent off the 1-5 favorite, Johannes surged past leader Cabo Spirit inside the final furlong and crossed the wire in 1:34.13 to improve to 8-for-8 on Santa Anita’s turf course and 9-for-15 overall. With the win, Johannes also earned a fees-paid berth for a return trip to the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Last year, Johannes finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile by three-quarters of a length after winning the City of Hope.

Johannes, a 5-year-old horse by Nyquist is trained by Tim Yakteen for owner-breeder CUYATHY LLC.

“This horse is a really good horse and he has a special place with me,” Yakteen said.

Cabo Spirit (8-1), ridden by Mike Smith, tracked pacesetter Zio Jo (35-1) through a tepid opening half mile 47.47 seconds as Johannes was content to settle behind horses. But then down the backstretch, there was an anxious moment for the heavy favorite. Johannes appeared to raise his head and briefly lose his action before quickly regaining his momentum.

“The horse got a little aggressive with Umberto because he slowed up. He was waiting for Mike (Smith) to make his move, then we made our move,” Yakteen said.

Cabo Spirit took the lead near the quarter pole reached in 1:11.60 but could not hold off the late charge from Johannes.

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

For Johannes, this signified an important bounce-back victory. On Aug. 2 at Saratoga, Johannes made his first start since last year’s Breeders’ Cup in the GI Fourstardave at a mile on turf. The 5-year-old horse by Nyquist was rank early and never a factor, finishing ninth in a 10-horse field.

Now it is on to the Breeders’ Cup.

“Five weeks is great timing,” Yakteen said. “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.”

Johannes, who upped his bankroll to $1,278,359, paid $2.40, $2.10 and $2.10. Cabo Spirit, trained by George Papaprodromou, returned $3.20 and $2.80. Almendares, ridden by Antonio Fresu for trainer Phil D’Amato, paid $2.10.

GRADE I, $200,000 CITY OF HOPE MILE QUOTES