Turf Star Johannes Shoots For A Repeat Win In The GII City Of Hope Mile Saturday At Santa Anita

TURF STAR JOHANNES SHOOTS FOR A REPEAT WIN IN THE GII CITY OF HOPE MILE SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA

The one-mile turf event provides the winner an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup Mile

ARCADIA, CA (Sept. 22, 2025)—A year ago, turf star Johannes rolled to a dominating victory in the GII City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita en route to being named an Eclipse Award finalist as North America’s outstanding turf horse. On Saturday, he’ll look for a similar result in the 2025 edition of the one-mile turf event, which is a “Win and You’re In” for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Trained by Tim Yakteen, Johannes won last year’s City of Hope Mile by 1 ¼ lengths under Umberto Rispoli as the heavy 4-5 favorite. It was one of five graded stakes wins in 2024 for Johannes. Following the City of Hope Mile, Johannes would suffer his only defeat of the year when a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile behind More Than Looks.

Since his superlative 2024 campaign, Johannes has made just one start, which came on Aug. 2 at Saratoga in the GI Fourstardave at a mile on grass. Sent off the 9-5 favorite, Johannes was rank early and never a factor, finishing ninth in a field of 10.

Johannes will look for a bounce-back effort Saturday now having that recent race under his belt. The 5-year-old horse by Nyquist will break from post three with Rispoli again in the irons. Owned and bred by Cuyathy LLC, Johannes is 14: 8-1-1 with $1,158,359 in earnings.

Among those looking to upend Johannes are veteran graded stakes winner Cabo Spirit and Almendares.

Cabo Spirit has been racing mainly at a mile on turf this year after competing in longer races last year for trainer George Papaprodromou and owner Kretz Racing. In April, Cabo Spirit won the GIII American at a mile on grass at Santa Anita. He most recently checked in third after setting the pace in the GII Del Mar Mile on Aug. 30. At this time last year, Cabo Spirit won the GII John Henry Turf Championship going 1 ¼ miles on grass at Santa Anita, which earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf where he was never a factor.

A 6-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, Cabo Spirit is 36: 6-4-9 with $1,256,336 in earnings. He’ll have Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons.

Almendares, trained by Phil D’Amato, finished ahead of Cabo Spirit when second in the Del Mar Mile. A 5-year-old gelding by Havana Grey, the European import is seeking his first graded stakes win for owners CYBT, McLean Racing Stables, Gevertz et al. Almendares has a record of 18: 5-5-3 with $445,695 in earnings, which includes two years racing in Ireland. He’ll be ridden by Antonio Fresu.

THE GII CITY OF HOPE MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 4 of 10 - Approximate post time 2:30 p.m. PT

1. Zio Jo – Mirco Demuro – 122

2. Scoobie Quando – Kazushi Kimura – 122

3. Johannes – Umberto Rispoli – 124

4. Final Boss – Juan Hernandez – 122

5. Almendares – Antonio Fresu – 122

6. Cabo Spirit – Mike Smith - 124

        First post Saturday is 1 p.m. PT. Admission gates open at 11 a.m.