A pair of Grade 1 winners, local favorite Johannes and East Coast invader Trikari, head up a field of nine for the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2) on Saturday as part of Santa Anita’s inaugural California Crown Day.
Johannes. Benoit Photo.
Johannes, trained by Tim Yakteen, is unbeaten in 2024 and seeking to extend his three-race win streak that includes the Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on May 27. He’s the 4-5 morning-line favorite.
Trikari, trained by H. Graham Motion, comes into the race with two straight wins, including the Belmont Derby (G1) at Aqueduct on July 6. He’s the co-third choice at 8-1.
Also at stake is an all fees paid, automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) on Nov. 2 at Del Mar as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
“I realize it’s a big step up, a tall task, but we need to see how he stacks up with these kinds of horses,” Motion said. “He’ll need to be at his best.”
The City of Hope Mile is one of five stakes on the card highlighted by the $1 million California Crown, which offers an all fees paid, automatic berth into the BC Classic.
Johannes, a son of Nyquist, won the American Stakes (G3) in April at Santa Anita, the took the Shoemaker Mile and won the Eddie Read (G2) in July at Del Mar. The 4-year-old colt has a record of 10-6-0-1.
Umberto Rispoli, who is 6-for-7 aboard Johannes, has the call from post 3.
John Velazquez also makes the trip West to ride Trikari. The Hall of Famer was aboard for the 3-year-old colt’s last two wins.
Du Jour, trained by Bob Baffert, won the Kilroe Mile in March, ran third in the Shoemaker Mile and was off the board in the Eddie Read. The 6-year-old gelding has a record of 6-3-3 in 20 starts for earnings of $1.7 million. He’s the 5-1 second choice.
Among the contenders are the top four finishers from the Del Mar Mile in August at Del Mar – Conclude, Almendares, Astronomer, and Du Jour.
Conclude and Almendares, as well as Easter, gives trainer Phil D’Amato three starters in the race.
Post time for the City of Hope, the final of 10 races, is 8:15 p.m. ET.
For those who bet horse racing …
The picks: 1 Trikari 2 Johannes 3 Du Jour
The field for the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2), from the rail out, with jockey, trainers, odds:
1 Du Jour (Juan Hernandez, Bob Baffert), 5-1
2 Irideo (Tyler Baze, Marcelo Polanco), 30-1
3 Johannes (Umberto Rispoli, Tim Yakteen), 4-5
4 Packs a Wahloo (Mike Smith, Jeff Mullins), 15-1
5 Easter (Antonio Fresu, Phil D’Amato), 10-1
6 Trikari (John Velazquez, H. Graham Motion), 8-1
7 Astronomer (Kazushi Kimura, Simon Callaghan), 20-1
8 Almendares (Flavien Prat, Phil D’Amato), 10-1
9 Conclude (Hector Berrios, Phil D’Amato), 8-1