Johannes definitely like Santa Anita Park and has now expanded its reach to Del Marand at the right time.
With Del Mar set to host this year’s Breeders’ Cup, the dark brown colt beat a stellar field of winners to win the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) on July 28, his first win at Del Mar and his first at 1 1/8 miles.
After winning the American Stakes (G3T) and Shoemaker Mile (G1T) at Santa Anita over the mile, Johannes has emerged as the 11-10 favorite for Eddie Read. He also has the advantage of his regular rider, Umberto Rispoli, having made a fast start at the Del Mar meeting.
Rispoli rode Johannes in all of his wins at Santa Anita, and the two again partnered well on Eddie Read.
Run ahead Ballade Singer Balladeer went straight up the field as the gates opened, with Johannes following him in second. Balladeer set fractions of :24.35 for the first quarter mile and :48.51 for the half mile. Johannes was perfectly positioned to take the lead at the top of the straight, and from there he galloped home easily to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:47.88.
Long shot Dicey Mo Chara fifth early, finishing well in second place with 76-1, half a length ahead Balnikhov those who came from further away. They were followed by Masterpiece who was briefly locked up in the upper part, Easter , Your day , Golden Phoenix , Ballade SingerAnd Harvard is gone .
“The pace scenario went really well,” said coach Tim Yakteen. “We sat close together, and he was very agile. He showed his versatility in some of the races.”
Yakteen has trained Johannes since the 4-year-old colt’s second start and in all of his races in California. Joe and Debby McCloskey bred and raced the 4-year-old colt. Nyquist –Cuythy via congratulations on behalf of Cuyathy.
Johannes broke his record by nine lengths at the end of 2022, his fourth start, first on turf, and first under Rispoli. He went on to win the Baffle Stakes and Pasadena Stakes in 2023. The colt then finished fifth in the 2023 American Turf Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs and took nearly a year off before winning at the American and Shoemaker.
“I think he’s really improved both physically and mentally,” Rispoli said, “and it’s all because Tim and Joe have been patient with him. After the American Turf, they decided to give him a long break, and that’s helped him develop and become a more mature horse. He’s still a little bit hyper, but I think that’s his personality.”
Cuyathy was the first horse the McCloskey family purchased for $50,000 at the Keeneland yearling auction in September 2014. Johannes was the mare’s first foal. Sea Dancer Cuyathy’s 2021 mare Proficiency is a winner for McCloskeys and Yakteen, and the mare has a 2-year-old mare who has never raced Gunman and a yearling mare Knicks go .
Johannes, Random , Encino And Nysos is the 2024 Graded Nyquist winner, the 2015 2-year-old champion filly and the 2016 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. The stallion’s previous runners include Eclipse Award winner Vequist Canadian Champion The Great Gretzky and the California-bred champion Slow down Andy Nyquist signed a contract for the 2024 season for $85,000 at Darley in Lexington.
Videotapes: Eddie Read S. (G2T)
