Johnny Podres eyes four-peat against tough Daytona field

The winning streak began with a come-from-behind victory in a $50,000 claimer in a turf sprint at Santa Anita on a Friday in early March.

Nearly three months later, the 7-year-old gelding Johnny Podres is a multiple stakes winner, has won three consecutive starts, and is possibly on the verge of his first graded stakes win in Sunday’s Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

It will not be easy. The race is full of contenders.

The $100,000 Daytona Stakes drew a field of 10, including six other stakes winners capable of a victory – Air Force Red, Astronomer, First Peace, Lane Way, Mucho Del Oro, and Whatmakessammyrun.

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The other runners are Almendares, Daniel’s Magic, and Nineeleventurbo.

Johnny Podres, claimed for $40,000 in May 2023, races for David Bernsen and Mi Familia Racing Stable. Since being claimed, Johnny Podres has earned $191,950, with the bulk of the earnings attained from wins in the $101,000 Sensational Star Stakes at odds of 5-1 on March 24, and the $100,000 Siren Lure Stakes at 16-1 on April 21.

In the three recent wins, Johnny Podres rallied to reach the front in the final sixteenth under jockey Geovanni Franco. Trainer Librado Barocio is banking on a similar trip in the Daytona.

“There are some new players in there,” Barocio said of the Daytona lineup. “If he gets the trip, he’ll give us a four-peat.”

Johnny Podres has worked once since the Siren Lure, a slow half-mile in 51.80 seconds on May 18. He had only one workout between the Sensational Star and the Siren Lure.

“I only worked him one time, that’s what he likes,” Barocio said. “When he comes back from his gallops, he’s happy.

“These older horses, in my opinion, when they’re good you keep riding the wave.”

The Daytona will be the first start in 11 months for Whatmakessammyrun, who was second by a neck in the 2023 Daytona. He can win on Sunday, provided he can beat another serious challenger in stablemate First Peace, also trained by Mark Glatt.

“I expect him to run very well,” Glatt said of Whatmakessammyrun. “He’s ready.”

Whatmakessammyrun drew the inside post, which Glatt admits is not ideal for the 6-year-old gelding who has won two stakes on the hillside turf course. Frankie Dettori, riding at Santa Anita on Sunday and Monday, has the mount for the first time.

“Maybe Frankie will be able to work out a trip,” Glatt said. “He’s not one that likes to run on the inside of horses.”

First Peace was second by a half-length in the Siren Lure after leading with a furlong remaining. First Peace is likely to be near the front throughout the Daytona.

“If there is a hot pace, he’s fine settling and making a run,” Glatt said. “He never gets too far back.”

The Daytona will be the American sprint debut for Almendares, who was second by a nose at 7-10 in the Grade 2 Mathis Mile for 3-year-olds on turf on Dec. 26 in his most recent start, and the first sprint for Astronomer, who was also considered for Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile.

Astronomer was fourth in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile at Golden Gate Fields on April 27, fading in the final furlong after racing near the front.

“I’ve always had it in my mind to try this distance,” said Simon Callaghan, who trains Astronomer. “He’s got good natural speed. I imagine we will be stalking.

“The Shoemaker has come up super tough.”

So has the Daytona.

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