Johannes well wound for start in San Gabriel on opening day at Santa Anita

An eager Johannes is set to have his first start since a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Mile last month in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26.

Trainer Tim Yakteen has the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25 targeted as a wintertime goal for Johannes. Yakteen said on Thursday that Johannes has shown enthusiasm in recent weeks and that a start in the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes has become more realistic.

“He came out of his Breeders’ Cup race really well,” Yakteen said. “We were planning on giving him a little bit of a breather, but he’s training so well. It may be easier if we let him continue to march on.”

On Thursday at Santa Anita, Johannes worked five furlongs in 1:00.60.

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“We’re on schedule,” Yakteen said.

Owned by Joe and Debby McCloskey, Johannes was beaten three-quarters of a length by More Than Looks in the BC Mile on Nov. 1, his only loss in five starts this year. He rates as a leading contender for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding turf male of 2024.

The $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes is run at 1 1/8 miles on turf. The $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf is also run at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

The Pegasus World Cup Turf is a possible goal for Mi Hermano Ramon, who won the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar last Saturday for his first graded stakes win.

Trainer Mark Glatt said on Thursday that the Pegasus World Cup Turf “is on our radar.”

In the $203,500 Seabiscuit Handicap, Mi Hermano Ramon ($24.80) closed from ninth of 12 to win by a half-length over 3-2 favorite Redistricting. Mi Hermano Ramon, who races for Red Baron’s Barn and Rancho Temescal, ran 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:41.07 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 99.

“He ran an awfully big race,” Glatt said.

Glatt said Mi Hermano Ramon will be considered for the San Gabriel. Overall, there are high hopes for the gelding in 2025.

“He looks like he’ll fall right into the older horse stakes, not only here but maybe around the country,” Glatt said.

First Peace getting a break

First Peace, winner of the Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita in September, is briefly out of training and is scheduled to return to action in 2025.

“He’s going to take a little bit of a vacation,” trainer Mark Glatt said on Thursday. “We’ll point for a late spring, summer, and fall campaign.

“He’s had some hard races. If we want him around for the summer or fall, with winter coming up, now may be a good time to give him a breather.”

Owned by Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, and Rodney Orr, First Peace has not raced since he won the $753,000 Eddie D Stakes as the 9-5 favorite at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course on Sept. 28.

A 4-year-old colt, First Peace was not considered a candidate for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at five furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 2 because of the abbreviated distance of the race, Glatt said in October.

A winner of 5 of 15 starts, First Peace has earned $778,520. Earlier this year, First Peace won the restricted Wickerr Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar in July.

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