Johannes makes it look easy in Pasadena Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. - In what amounted to little more than a trial, Johannes won his two-turn debut in Sunday’s $98,000 Pasadena Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf at Santa Anita to remain unbeaten on the surface.
Johannes ($2.60) stalked a solid pace set by 5-1 Wizard of Westwood, rallied three-wide on the turn and pulled clear to win by 3 1/2 lengths over 5-2 Game Time.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Johannes was timed in 1:33.79 and earned a career-best Beyer Figure of 91.
“I thought it worked out well,” trainer Tim Yakteen said. “We got an opportunity to go two turns in a small field."
Johannes is unbeaten in three starts on turf at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, which began on Dec. 26. The colt won his fourth start, and debut on turf, in a maiden race at six furlongs on Dec. 31.
In his 3-year-old debut, Johannes won the Baffle Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on March 5, beating Wizard of Westwood.
In the Pasadena Stakes, Wizard of Westwood ran an opening quarter-mile in 22.75 seconds, and a half-mile in 46.63, leading by as much as 1 1/2 lengths.
“It had a stronger pace than I envisioned,” Yakteen said.
Game Time, second early, held that position through the stretch, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Wizard of Westwood. Keen to Go (22-1) finished last in the field of four. Mucino was withdrawn on Sunday morning.
Johannes, by Nyquist, races for owners and breeders Joe and Debbie McCloskey, who race as Cuyathy LLC. Johannes has won 3 of 6 starts and earned $170,059.
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