Johannes setting sights on Pegasus World Cup Turf

Johannes, a game second to More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2 in his only loss this year, is scheduled to have his first start of 2025 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25.

Trainer Tim Yakteen said on Wednesday that it was unclear whether Johannes would have a prep race in the interim, with the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 as a possibility.

“That would be the logical spot if we did run,” Yakteen said of the San Gabriel.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

At the same time, Yakteen cautioned that Johannes has thrived with considerable time between starts this year. Johannes won the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita in April after an 11-month layoff. A 4-year-old colt, Johannes won the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 27 more than seven weeks after the American Stakes.

Johannes raced only two more times before the BC Mile, winning the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar on July 28 and the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Sept. 28.

“We’ve always spaced his races and he’s performed well,” Yakteen said.

The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf is run at 1 1/8 miles and is the first major turf stakes of the new year.

Owned and bred by Joe and Debby McCloskey, Johannes won 4 of 5 starts in 2024, a season that will attract support for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding turf male. In the BC Mile, Johannes closed from sixth in a field of 10 to finish three-quarters of a length behind More Than Looks, who was recently retired to stud.

By Nyquist, Johannes has won 7 of 12 starts and earned $1,033,859.

Yakteen had two stakes wins in California last Saturday with Practical Dream in the Desi Arnaz Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Del Mar and American Admiral in the Mt. Diablo Stakes at Pleasanton.

While Practical Dream is a candidate for the Grade 2 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 7, American Admiral will be considered for the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Dec. 26, Yakteen said.

American Admiral is a 6-year-old gelding who has won 4 of 23 starts and earned $304,020. The $75,000 Mt. Diablo Stakes at 1 1/16 miles was his first stakes win. Ridden by Alexander Chavez, American Admiral ($9.20) closed from fourth in a field of five to win by a half-length over 2-5 favorite Lammas.

“I’m thrilled for American Admiral,” Yakteen said on Wednesday. “He’s such a neat horse and a barn pet. He’s a gentle giant.”

American Admiral was sold for $1.3 million as a yearling at Keeneland in 2019 and had his first two starts in the spring of 2021 for trainer Bob Baffert. At the time, American Admiral was owned by a partnership that included the Coolmore syndicate and Sarah Kelly.

American Admiral has been owned by Donnie Crevier and trained by Yakteen since the summer of 2021.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.