Atitlan, the heavy favorite, surged on the final bend to claim a commanding win in the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship (G2) held Saturday at Santa Anita. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Atitlan (4-5) finished 2¼ lengths ahead of the unexpected runner-up Flashiest, who was a 16-1 longshot. Mondegoin, the 5-2 second choice, secured third place just half a length behind, while Atomic Age rounded out the top four.
Rispoli, who was riding Atitlan for only the second time, remarked, “There was plenty of pace in the race. The horse found his spot, and the trip was smooth with an ideal position throughout. Coming into the final turn, I felt him lifting me along and once he unleashed his stride, he won effortlessly.”
Earlier the same day, Rispoli also won the Eddie D (G2) aboard Sorrento Sky, trained by Phil D’Amato.
Before this victory, Atitlan narrowly missed first place by a neck against Test Score in the Del Mar Handicap (G2), with Rispoli also riding in that 1 3/8-mile race. This marked Atitlan’s third race after a 10½-month break and his third under trainer Richard Mandella. Previously, Atitlan had 12 starts with the late John Shirreffs, who passed away in February at 80. Under Shirreffs, Atitlan won the Charles S. Whittingham (G2) last year, a turf race over 1¼ miles.
Mandella praised the horse, saying, “He’s been very easy to handle. John Shirreffs laid the foundation and developed a great horse. I’m just here to add the final touches.”
Atitlan completed the race in 1:58.35, with quarter-mile splits of :22.58, :46.40, 1:10.93, and 1:35.78 for the mile mark. The 5-year-old, sired by The Factor and out of the Acatenango mare Armanda (GER), is owned by John M.B. O’Connor. He now holds a record of 5 wins, 1 second, and 4 thirds from 15 starts, earning close to $550,000. Atitlan was bred in Kentucky by Anastasie Astrid Christiansen-Croy.
The winning payout for Atitlan was $3.80.
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Fan Take: Atitlan’s decisive victory highlights the enduring impact of legendary trainers and the seamless transition in a horse’s training camps. For racing enthusiasts, performances like this reaffirm the excitement of turf racing and the emergence of top-caliber turf specialists in American racing.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
