Atitlan capable of taking down John Henry Turf Championship

Atitlan may only need to repeat his second-place finish in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap last month to win Saturday’s Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita.

In his second start of 2026, Atitlan closed from last of 11 to miss by a neck in the $303,000 Del Mar Handicap at 1 3/8 miles on turf.

“He ran a winning race,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “He ran a great race. I hope we can get that race back.”

In the $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf, Atitlan returns to the course and distance of his last stakes win, the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes in May 2025.

At the time, Atitlan was trained by John Shirreffs. A 5-year-old horse owned by John O’Connor, Atitlan was transferred to Mandella earlier this year following the death of Shirreffs in February.

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On Saturday, Atitlan will be ridden by Umberto Rispoli, who was aboard for the first time in the Del Mar Handicap. Mandella envisions Atitlan taking his customary position at the rear of the field.

“I’ll leave it up to Rispoli,” he said of specific race tactics. “He’ll be toward the back.”

The John Henry Turf Championship drew a field of nine, who were all beaten in their last starts. Some, like Atitlan, ran well in defeat, notably Atomic Age, who was third by three-quarters of a length in the Del Mar Handicap, his stakes debut.

Atomic Age, a maiden race winner at Aqueduct last October in his final start for trainer Chad Brown, finished fifth in his first start for trainer Phil D’Amato in mid-June. Atomic Age was gelded a few weeks later. A 4-year-old, Atomic Age rebounded to win an allowance race at 1 3/8 miles on turf on Aug. 6.

Atomic Age went from displaying stud-like tendencies in June to more focused performances in races in August, D’Amato said.

“His mind changed dramatically and he was saving his energy for the race,” D’Amato said.

“I think he’ll like a mile and a quarter. He’s got tactical speed. I think he has a shot.”

Mandella also starts Sinsel, who was 10th by four lengths in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on turf on Aug. 22 in his American debut. Sinsel, a two-time Group 1 winner in Brazil in 2025, failed to settle in the Del Mar Mile, a predicament Mandella said was a result of the 5-year-old horse being “fresh” in his first start in nearly a year.

A second start in a longer race should suit Sinsel, who won stakes at 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 miles in Brazil.

“From looking at his form, I would think he would improve with distance,” Mandella said.

The field also includes Mondego, who won the Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita in February and the Whittingham at that distance in May. Trained by Michael McCarthy, Mondego was fifth by a length in the Del Mar Handicap after leading in the stretch.

“A mile and quarter should be in his wheelhouse,” McCarthy said.

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