Rispoli must decide to ride Johannes or Formidable Man in Breeders' Cup Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. - What a pleasant problem to have.

California-based jockey Umberto Rispoli has a decision to make soon regarding the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1. Rispoli is the regular rider of Formidable Man, the winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 30, and Johannes, who was second in the 2024 BC Mile and won the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Michael McCarthy, who trains Formidable Man, and Tim Yakteen, who trains Johannes, both said on Sunday that they expect Rispoli to ride Johannes.

“I think he’ll be on Johannes,” Yakteen said.

“Umberto will probably ride Johannes,” McCarthy said.

Rispoli and his agent, Matt Nakatani, were reluctant to commit on Sunday.

McCarthy said he has made contingency plans with the agents of other riders.

:: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now.

“I’ve a got a couple of calls, so we’ll be fine,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy declined to state on Sunday who may ride Formidable Man.

Formidable Man and Johannes represent two of the best chances in the BC Mile among American-based candidates.

Johannes won his first stakes, and second start, of 2025 in the City of Hope Mile, closing from fourth of six to win by 1 1/4 lengths as the 1-5 favorite. Johannes was ninth of 11 after a troubled trip in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 2 in his first start since late December.

The loss at Saratoga was not a true indication of Johannes’s ability, Yakteen said.

“You can’t draw a conclusion from the New York race,” Yakteen said. “It was a disaster from the minute the gate opened.

“He trained unbelievably before the race at Saratoga. He didn’t get an opportunity to run. I haven’t been lacking any confidence in the horse.”

Johannes has won 9 of 15 starts, and is unbeaten in eight starts on turf at Santa Anita. At Del Mar, Johannes has started twice. He won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar more than three months before the second-place finish in the BC Mile.

“I like the five weeks between races,” Yakteen said of the gap between the City of Hope Mile and this year’s BC Mile. “I think he’s run his best races at Del Mar.”

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