Johannes rallies into fast pace to win comeback in American Stakes

Johannes had a flawless comeback after an 11-month layoff in Thursday’s Grade 3 American Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita.

In his debut against older horses, the 4-year-old Johannes ($4.60) closed from third behind a fast pace to win the $102,500 American Stakes by 1 3/4 lengths in the quick time of 1:32.06.

Johannes was favored in the field of 10, and the support looked even more attractive when he tracked Air Force Red, who zoomed through a quick pace of 21.85 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.98 for a half-mile, closely tracked by Genius Jimmy. Those two were well clear of the other eight runners on the backstretch.

Johannes moved closer to the leaders with a three-wide move on the turn and challenged for the lead in early stretch. He took command with less than an eighth of a mile remaining.

“I have a lot of faith in this horse,” jockey Umberto Rispoli said in a winner’s circle interview. “I know the potential of this horse and how good he can be.”

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War at Sea (12-1) finished second, a half-length in front of 9-1 Sumter who closed from fourth on the turn.

Air Force Red faded to finish fourth, followed by Prince Abama, Fuerteventura, Irideo, Parnelli, Gold Phoenix, and Genius Jimmy. The American Stakes was the first start for Gold Phoenix since a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita last November. Gold Phoenix won three graded stakes in 2023.

Johannes, a colt by Nyquist, races for owners and breeders Joe and Debbie McCloskey, who race as Cuyathy LLC.

A winner of 4 of 8 starts, Johannes won his third stake, and first at the graded level, in the American. In early 2023, Johannes won consecutive turf stakes for 3-year-olds at Santa Anita – the Baffle Stakes for sprinters on the hillside course and the Pasadena Stakes at a mile.

In what turned out to be his final start of 2023, Johannes finished fifth by two lengths in the American Turf Stakes for 3-year-olds at Churchill Downs last May on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

“Facing older horses for the first time, we didn’t know” what to expect, trainer Tim Yakteen said in the winner’s circle. “He came back the way we wanted him to.”

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