ARCADIA, Calif. – Almendares and King of Gosford, first and fourth in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita last Saturday, will represent trainer Phil D’Amato in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf on May 25. D’Amato has won two of the last four runnings of the Shoemaker on turf, including last year with King of Gosford. He has won the race five times in his career since 2014. In the $100,000 American Stakes at a mile on turf, Almendares closed from last of seven to win by a neck over Genius Jimmy, a candidate for the Shoemaker trained by Michael McCarthy. For Almendares, the American Stakes was his first graded stakes win in his 14th start in such a race. Earlier this year, Almendares was third in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park in January. “I see a horse on the improve,” D’Amato said. “Ever since he had a good performance in the Pegasus Turf, he’s steadily come on through the year. :: Access the most trusted data and information in horse racing! DRF Past Performances and Picks are available now. A 6-year-old gelding, Almendares has won 6 of 23 starts and earned $643,695. He races for the partnership of John Rochfort, McLean Racing Stables, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano. King of Gosford was beaten 1 3/4 lengths in the American Stakes, his first start since a last-place finish of six in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile last August. King of Gosford was third on the backstretch in the American Stakes and within a half-length of the lead with a quarter-mile remaining. A winner of 7 of 19 starts, King of Gosford was ridden for the first time by Emisael Jaramillo in the American Stakes. “He got rank early and I think it forced Jaramillo’s hand,” D’Amato said. “He still finished. I think second time out he won’t be as rank.” The Shoemaker Mile is the richest race for males at the current spring meeting at Santa Anita, which continues through June 14. The Shoemaker is one of three graded stakes on the May 25 program, along with the Grade 1 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt. The Shoemaker field is expected to include Final Boss and El Potente, the first two finishers of the Grade 2 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf on March 7, and Seal Team, who was third in the American Stakes. Almendares was third in the Kilroe. Final Boss, trained by John Sadler, worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds on the infield training track at Santa Anita on Monday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.