Cabo Spirit to use John Henry purse to get into BC Turf

ARCADIA, Calif.– Cabo Spirit financed his way into the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 2 with a surprise win in Saturday’s Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita.

The winner’s share of the $753,000 John Henry Turf Championship was $450,000, more than enough for owner Rustin Kretz to cover the hefty $150,000 in pre-entry and entry fees. The fees are still a sizable investment to start Cabo Spirit against an international field, however.

“It would have been nice if it was Win and You’re In,” trainer George Papaprodromou said on Sunday.

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The Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program offers fees-paid berths for Breeders’ Cup races to eligible horses that win major stakes. The John Henry Turf Championship was not part of that schedule of races.

The John Henry Turf Championship is the most lucrative win of Cabo Spirit’s 27-race career, and his first victory since the Grade 2 Twilight Derby at Santa Anita in 2022, ending an 11-race losing streak.

Papaprodromou and jockey Abel Cedillo had a simple strategy – put Cabo Spirit in front.

“That was our plan – put him on the lead and put the field to sleep,” Papaprodromou said.

Cabo Spirit, ignored at 24-1, set a slow pace and won by a length over 14-1 There Goes Harvard.

For Cedillo, the John Henry Turf Championship was the richest win of his career.

“He made it happen,” Papaprodromou said of the 35-year-old rider.

Papaprodromou has made a habit of winning the John Henry in a surprising manner. Last year, Balladeer led throughout in a slight upset at 6-1. Balladeer later finished ninth in the BC Turf at Santa Anita.

“I’m the John Henry guy,” Papaprodromou said with a smile.

Papaprodromou, 48, was “the guy” at Santa Anita over the weekend. He won a career-best four races on Sunday to give him six wins from 10 runners at Santa Anita from Friday through Sunday.

Papaprodromou has runners in three of the nine races at Santa Anita on Friday, the track’s next day of live racing.

Balladeer, who was last of nine in the Grade 2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7, is in the midst of a 60-day break, Papaprodromou said.

As many as four runners from the John Henry may start in the BC Turf. There Goes Harvard, Gold Phoenix, who finished fifth, and El Encinal, who was last of 11, are candidates.

There Goes Harvard will start at 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the BC Turf.

“It shouldn’t be an issue,” trainer Michael McCarthy said.

Gold Phoenix and El Encinal hold fees-paid berths. Gold Phoenix won the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap for the third consecutive year on Aug. 31. He was beaten in the John Henry Turf Championship for the third consecutive year on Saturday, losing by slightly more than three lengths.

“The race was a mile and a quarter over a fast turf course,” trainer Phil D’Amato said on Sunday morning. “With a farther distance, he’ll be fine.

“It was nothing more than a workout yesterday.”

Gold Phoenix was one of four runners in the race trained by D’Amato, and the best-placed runner. Divin Propos, Rockemperor, and Balnikhov finished sixth, ninth, and 10th.

“The John Henry was not what we envisioned with any of my runners,” D’Amato said. “They were in chase mode after a slow pace and it didn’t work out.”

El Encinal earned a fees-paid berth with a win in the Group 1 Carlos Pellegrini Stakes in Argentina last December, but has struggled in California. El Encinal was last in the Del Mar Handicap in his stateside debut.

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