Last month at Del Mar’s seaside track, the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile delivered an exhilarating finish with the top four horses crossing the finish line within just half a length of each other. This Saturday, those same four contenders, joined by two newcomers, will face off once again at Santa Anita Park in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile. The race carries significant weight as the winner will secure a fully paid entry into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on October 31.
In the Del Mar Mile, King of Gosford, a 5-year-old Zoustar colt bred in England and trained by Phil D’Amato, emerged victorious by a narrow head under jockey Umberto Rispoli. This marked King of Gosford’s second consecutive stakes triumph, pushing his earnings over the $1 million mark. Finishing in second was Detain, a 4-year-old Irish-bred by Wootton Bassett, trained by Michael McCarthy for owner-breeder Juddmonte. Detain edged out third-place El Potente by a neck, who in turn was just a neck ahead of the front-runner Cabo Spirit.
D’Amato praised King of Gosford’s fighting spirit in the closing moments, highlighting that the colt thrives in close contests and comes into the City of Hope Mile as the 8-5 favorite, carrying momentum from recent wins at Del Mar. Detain, who crafted a strong mid-pack rally under Juan Hernandez but fell just short, is priced at 8-1 and aims for a similar stalking strategy on Santa Anita’s longer stretch, which trainer McCarthy believes will suit his runner well.
Despite being boxed far outside in post 11 during the Del Mar Mile, El Potente was favored at 5-2 by the betting public. With Hector Berrios aboard, El Potente stalked Cabo Spirit before narrowly missing out on victory. Trainer Dan Blacker noted that the wide draw forced the horse to exert extra effort early, likely costing him a closer finish. Now positioned at post 2 in the City of Hope Mile, El Potente is the 9-5 second choice and will break just inside Cabo Spirit, who is listed at 6-1. Blacker trusts Berrios to make tactical decisions whether to challenge for the lead or settle just behind it.
Two newcomers will add intrigue to Saturday’s race: Teao, a Group 1-winning import from Chile making his stakes debut for trainer John Sadler, and Irish Aces, a 6-year-old gelding shipping in from Woodbine for Brendan Walsh after strong recent performances in Grade 2 competition. Both are listed at 6-1 odds.
The City of Hope Mile will be the third race on Saturday’s card, kicking off a day featuring five stakes in total among ten races. Post time is set for 2:06 p.m. PT, with the post positions and riders as follows: Teao (Paco Lopez, 6-1), El Potente (Hector Berrios, 9-5), Cabo Spirit (Mike Smith, 6-1), Detain (Juan Hernandez, 8-1), Irish Aces (Joel Rosario, 6-1), and King of Gosford (Umberto Rispoli, 8-5).
Fan Take: This matchup sets the stage for a thrilling showdown between proven stakes competitors and exciting new talent, all vying for a coveted spot in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Horse racing fans should be keenly watching as this race could not only reveal a rising star but also underscore the depth of talent in American turf racing this season.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
