Intriguing cast in City of Hope Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – There has not been a dominant horse in California’s turf mile division this year. While that may lessen the group’s profile nationally, the division often produces fascinating and competitive races, such as Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita.

Of the 11 runners, 10 are stakes winners, including nine graded stakes winners. The race has significant implications for the Breeders’ Cup Mile here on Nov. 2, which is expected to draw Bricks and Mortar, the leading turf male in the United States.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s top contenders

The $200,000 City of Hope Mile is led by Prince Earl, who won the division’s most recent race – the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 18 in his first start of the year.

Prince Earl faces Bolo and River Boyne, who were first and second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile here on May 29; Catapult, who was fifth in the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in July and second in the BC Mile at Churchill Downs last November; and Ohio and True Valour, graded stakes winners early in the year.

Prince Earl, trained by Phil D’Amato for Old Bones Racing Stable and Todd Marshall, overcame traffic in early stretch to win his first stakes in the Del Mar Mile, his first start since a fourth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar last December.

In recent weeks, Prince Earl has worked in company with stablemate Bowies Hero, who runs in Saturday’s Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

“I want to see what he does the second time,” D’Amato said. “His workmate has been Bowies Hero and they’ve been head-and-head in their preps.”

D’Amato said he is not concerned Prince Earl will regress in his second start of the year.

“He’s been very positive in his breezes,” he said.

D’Amato also runs Andesh, the only horse in the City of Hope without a stakes win.

“Both have Breeders’ Cup aspirations,” D’Amato said.

Andesh closed from seventh to win his first start of 2019 in an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option on Aug. 10.

“He ran so big off the layoff,” D’Amato said. “We’ve had this race picked all along.”

Catapult, beaten a nose by Ohio in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile in March here, finished a half-length behind Expert Eye in the 2018 BC Mile. For Saturday’s race, Catapult will be ridden for the first time by Rafael Bejarano, who replaces Drayden Van Dyke.

Catapult has raced as a stalker at times this year, but trainer John Sadler will instruct Bejarano to take a different approach.

“I want him back off the pace,” Sadler said. “It will be a strategy change. He’s been running well, but not quite as good as before. This is a good prep for the Breeders’ Cup.”

Kingly, who won the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap for 3-year-olds at Del Mar in August, and Bolo are likely to set the pace.

The City of Hope will be the first start in several months for River Boyne and True Valour.

River Boyne won five stakes for 3-year-olds on turf in 2018, but is winless in four starts this year. He was a game second in the Shoemaker Mile in May before being given the summer off.

“He might need a race,” trainer Jeff Mullins said. “We’re going in with that thought. I wouldn’t count him out. He’s the class of the race. This is a coming-out party for him.”

True Valour has not started since a win in Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf here in February, his first stakes win in the United States.

“I think he’s pretty ready,” trainer Simon Callaghan said.

True Valour, who will be ridden by Van Dyke, will be closing.

“He likes to roll late,” Callaghan said. “He has a little run and you have to save it.”

◗ Saturday’s 10-race program concludes with the restricted Swingtime Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf. The field is led by Toinette, who was third in the Grade 2 John Mabee Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 31.

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