ARCADIA, Calif. - There will always be a measure of anticipation when Almendares starts. This is commonplace for a come-from-behind runner. Such a strategy worked in the Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar last summer, and again in the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Saturday. In between, Almendares was beaten in five graded stakes, including a third-place finish at 37-1 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 24. Almendares is likely to start in another Grade 1 turf race in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 25 after his successful rally in the $101,000 American Stakes. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Almendares trailed pacesetter Captain Choochies by more than six lengths halfway through the American Stakes. “I loved where I was,” Fresu said. “His best race is when he’s out the back, relaxed and chilling.” Captain Choochies set a modest pace of 23.30 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.48 for a half-mile. Almendares was sixth approaching the stretch, and fifth with a furlong remaining while racing wide. Genius Jimmy, a 7-1 chance who stalked the early pace, took the lead with a furlong remaining. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Genius Jimmy was unable to hold off Almendares. “I had a beautiful trip,” Hernandez said. “The winner came very wide and he didn’t see him. They didn’t catch him until the wire.” Almendares, who was sent off favored, paid $5.40 to win, and was timed in 1:34.14. Almendares earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95. Genius Jimmy finished a length in front of 9-2 Seal Team, who was second in the stretch. King of Gosford, winner of the 2025 Shoemaker Mile for D’Amato, finished fourth in his first start since August, followed by Sumter, Twirling Point and Captain Choochies. Almendares, who races for John Rochfort, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, has won 6 of 23 starts and earned $643,695. The Wickerr and American stakes are his only stakes wins. A 6-year-old British-bred gelding by Havana Grey, Almendares is trained by Phil D’Amato, who swept the two stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Earlier, the stable’s Later Than Planned won the $100,000 John Shear Stakes for 3-year-old turf sprinters. Fresu rode Almendares in the Wickerr Stakes last July, and later to a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile last August and a third in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile last September. Those races have taught Fresu that Almendares is ineffective as a stalker. “He has a turn of foot,” Fresu said. “He’s gotten too close and he didn’t use it. “He’s been too unlucky that he hasn’t won a graded stakes yet.” The problem was solved on Saturday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.