Teao gets tough test for U.S. debut in City of Hope Mile

The new guy in the California turf division left South America earlier this year with quite a reputation.

Teao, a 4-year-old Chilean-bred colt, has his United States debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 City of Hope Mile, his first start since he won his fourth Group 1 race in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano at 1 1/4 miles on turf in Peru on April 26.

Trained by John Sadler for Don Alberto Stable, Teao has a tricky assignment in the $200,000 City of Hope Mile, racing against several of the circuit’s leading turf milers.

Teao has had six workouts since mid-August, four on turf at Del Mar and two on the infield synthetic training track at Santa Anita.

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Sadler has cautious expectations for Saturday’s race, questioning whether the distance is on the shorter side of Teao’s best trip.

“I want to get him started,” Sadler said. “Even though he’s won at a mile, it looks like he’s better going farther.

“We’ll go here and get a race in him.”

Sadler said Saturday’s Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita would have been a better option for Teao with more time to prepare.

“He wasn’t ready for the John Henry,” Sadler said. “I think he’ll be a good mile and a quarter.”

Teao, who is by the Mastercraftsman stallion Ya Primo, has won 6 of 12 starts. His four wins in Group 1 races included two on dirt and two on turf at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/2 miles.

In the City of Hope Mile, Teao starts from the inside post in a field of six that includes the first four finishers of the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 22 – King of Gosford, Detain, El Potente and Cabo Spirit – and Irish Aces, who was second and third in two graded stakes on turf at Woodbine in the summer.

The winner receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Sadler has a good record with recent imports from South America. In 2024, Full Serrano joined his stable after winning a stakes the previous year in Argentina. Full Serrano won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile at Del Mar later in 2024.

Full Serrano was third in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22 in his last start and worked a fast half-mile in 46.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday.

Sadler said Full Serrano is under consideration for the BC Dirt Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

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