Cabo Spirit ends skid with gate-to-wire win in City of Hope Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. − Left alone on the lead, Cabo Spirit played the role of spoiler in Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile on turf at Santa Anita, ending a six-race losing streak and winning the seventh stakes of his 45-race career.

The win gives Cabo Spirit a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31. Cabo Spirit is trained by George Papaprodromou, who said later on Saturday afternoon that the BC Mile is a strong consideration, pending a conversation with owner Rustin Kretz.

Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, who turned 60 in August, Cabo Spirit was the longest shot in a field of five in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile and led by at least a length to the final furlong. He was challenged late by 2-1 favorite El Potente and held on by a head, returning $16.40.

Smith rode Cabo Spirit for the 12th time on Saturday. The City of Hope Mile was the third time Smith guided Cabo Spirit to a stakes win. Last December, Cabo Spirit won the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

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At the Del Mar summer meeting, Cabo Spirit was second by a nose in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes on July 26, and fourth by a half-length in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 22. Smith was aboard for both races.

“He always runs a winning race,” Smith said in the winner’s circle. “It’s great to see him end up on this side instead of second or third.”

Cabo Spirit was timed in 1:33.06.

Cabo Spirit set a modest early pace of 23.47 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.91 for a half-mile.

“I got away with an easy first quarter,” Smith said. “I thought I could get a little brave on the backside and let him run a little bit. I was able to give him a beather on the turn.”

With a quarter-mile remaining, Cabo Spirit led by 1 1/2 lengths, with El Potente in second. Through the stretch, Cabo Spirit drifted wide while maintaining a diminishing advantage. El Potente stayed on the inside in the final furlong.

Cabo Spirit’s position in the stretch did not concern Smith.

“That’s him down the lane,” Smith said. “I can keep him from [drifting out], but when I do it slows him down.”

El Potente, third by a neck in the Del Mar Mile, appeared in position to catch Cabo Spirit and just missed.

“He ran a great race,” trainer Dan Blacker said.

El Potente finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of 2-1 King of Gosford, the winner of the Del Mar Mile. Irish Aces finished fourth, followed by Detain, who was second by a head in the Del Mar Mile.

Cabo Spirit, a gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, has won 8 of 45 starts and earned $1,568,856. As a 7-year-old, Cabo Spirit is the oldest winner of the City of Hope Mile, which was first run in 1986 and was known at the time as the Col. F.W. Koester Handicap.

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