King of Gosford aims at three straight in City of Hope

For the second time in his career, King of Gosford has compiled a winning streak of at least two races.

A win in Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita would equal a three-race win streak in the spring of 2024 and put King of Gosford on course for the Breeders’ Cup Mile on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

A win also would be a financial boost for King of Gosford’s owners – Sandra Benowitz, John Rochfort, Michael Nentwig, Saul Gevertz, and Jeremy Peskoff. The winner of the $200,000 City of Hope Mile receives a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile.

Such a race became a realistic goal after King of Gosford’s campaign at Del Mar this summer, wins in the restricted Wickerr Stakes in July and the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 22.

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The 5-year-old horse’s form has not changed since then, trainer Phil D’Amato said earlier this week.

“He’s a happy horse,” D’Amato said. “He’s in good form and he’s training that way.”

What also is unchanged is the competition. King of Gosford won the Del Mar Mile by a head over Detain, who finished a neck in front of El Potente. Cabo Spirit finished fourth, beaten a half-length, after setting the pace.

Those three are entered in the City of Hope Mile along with Teao, a South American import who has won four Group 1 races in Chile and Peru, and Irish Aces, who was second and third in two graded stakes on turf at Woodbine in the summer.

King of Gosford drew the outside post in the City of Hope Mile. He led throughout the Wickerr, but closed from fourth of 11 in the Del Mar Mile. Umberto Rispoli had the mount in both races. With Cabo Spirit and El Potente expected to race on or near the lead, King of Gosford is likely to stalk the pace.

“I like that Umberto seems to get along with him really well,” D’Amato said. “I think we’re in a good spot. We drew an outside post and we can use that to our advantage.”

Detain, third in the Group 1 French Derby in 2025, had his American stakes debut in the Del Mar Mile, by far his best performance in three starts since joining trainer Michael McCarthy’s stable earlier this year.

“We’re expecting kind of a repeat performance,” McCarthy said. “I thought it was a great race.”

Detain closed six lengths in the final quarter-mile in the Del Mar Mile. A slightly longer stretch at Santa Anita, 990 feet compared to 817 at Del Mar, could help Detain’s late run.

“We get a lengthier stretch run here than at Del Mar,” McCarthy said. “Hopefully, that works to his favor.”

Irish Aces also will race as a closer. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Irish Aces was third by a head in the Grade 2 King Edward Stakes at a mile on Aug. 15.

“He’s a rock-solid horse,” Walsh said. “Hopefully, there’ll be plenty of pace. He never runs a bad race.”

El Potente drew post 2 in the City of Hope Mile compared to the outside in the Del Mar Mile. The wide draw may have cost El Potente a win last month, trainer Dan Blacker said. Jockey Hector Berrios urged El Potente forward to save ground leading to the first turn.

“In the last race, the post position really got us,” Blacker said. Hector “had to use him to get position. It took a little sting out of his finish. Those kinds of things can cost you at the end of the race.”

El Potente has won 6 of 10 career starts on turf at Santa Anita. If he adds to the win total on Saturday, he will be near the front throughout.

“He can be on the lead or stalk,” Blacker said. “He can do either. It’s up to Hector and how he breaks.”

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