Cabo Spirit leads all the way in San Gabriel Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - There are some afternoons when the 6-year-old gelding Cabo Spirit cannot be caught.
In recent years, Cabo Spirit has developed into a consistent pacesetter or stalker. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Cabo Spirit led throughout the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf, his third stakes win in that manner since late September 2024.
Cabo Spirit ($14.80) was never seriously troubled by 10 rivals, leading by as many as three lengths on the backstretch. Cabo Spirit was in front by 1 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining and won by 1 1/4 lengths over 5-1 Astronomer.
Ridden by Mike Smith, Cabo Spirit was timed in 1:47.34 on a turf course listed as good following substantial rain in the last several days.
“He was happy,” Smith said. “I think he likes a little bit of cut in the ground. It suited him. He felt comfortable all the way around.”
Cabo Spirit earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
Sunday was the opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting. Programs on Friday and Saturday were canceled because of rain.
Cabo Spirit set a fair pace in the San Gabriel Stakes for a race at the distance. He was in front by a length after an opening quarter-mile in 23.18 seconds, and by three lengths after a half-mile in 47.14. Cabo Spirit cleared six furlongs in 1:11.21.
Smith has ridden Cabo Spirit six times since late April and knows how to manage the gelding’s energy from the front.
“It’s getting him to breathe,” he said. “He was so happy all the way around there.”
Astronomer, who was ridden by Jose Ortiz, closed from third to emerge as a leading threat to Cabo Spirit with a furlong remaining.
“He ran his race,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “Jose rode him perfectly. That’s the way he wants to be ridden.
Cabo Spirit “is a tough horse when he gets the lead.”
Mondego (10-1) closed from seventh to finish third, and was followed by Stay Hot, Endlessly, Flashiest, Twirling Point, Nineeleventurbo, Suchet, St Anthony and Nesso’s Lasthurrah.
Stay Hot, the 2-1 favorite, was fifth early and third in the stretch. He was beaten 1 3/4 lengths, and missed third by a nose.
Cabo Spirit, who is by Pioneerof the Nile, has won 7 of 39 starts and earned $1,356,836 for Rustin Kretz and trainer George Papaprodromou. Earlier in his career, which began in August 2021, Cabo Spirit ran from off the pace, a style that led to wins in the Eddie Logan Stakes, the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap and Grade 2 Twilight Derby in 2022.
Cabo Spirit was winless in eight starts in 2023, but won the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles at 24-1 in September 2024 by leading throughout. Last April, Cabo Spirit won the Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita from the front with Smith aboard.
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