Yakteen has three-win weekend

DEL MAR, Calif. – With two winning juveniles and a veteran 4-year-old in peak form, trainer Tim Yakteen had the best weekend of his 20-year career at Del Mar on Saturday and Sunday.

It all happened in the days before his 60th birthday on Monday.

Johannes, a 4-year-old colt, extended his 2024 winning streak to three graded stakes on turf with an attractive win against a strong field in Sunday’s Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Earlier on Sunday, the colt McKinzie Street won a maiden race for 2-year-olds, a day after Proud Starlet won a maiden race for 2-year-old fillies. The juveniles give Yakteen contenders for Grade 1 races at the end of the current Del Mar meeting.

:: DRF's Del Mar Handicapping Packages: Get everything you need to play the races with confidence.

Yakteen has won eight career stakes at Del Mar. The wins by the 2-year-olds added to a more comprehensive set of results.

Where Johannes starts next is yet to be determined. Yakteen said on Sunday that Grade 2 turf races such as the $300,000 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 31, or the $200,000 City of Hope Mile at Santa Anita on Sept. 28 are possibilities. Johannes is likely to start once before an intended start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2.

Johannes, who races for Joe and Debbie McCloskey, has already won California’s leading annual turf race for milers, the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Santa Anita on May 27. Facing an international field in the BC Mile is another matter.

“We’ve seen what he can do,” Yakteen said in the winner’s circle. “Is he a Breeders’ Cup-caliber horse? That will be determined on Breeders’ Cup Day.”

McKinzie Street, who races for Pierre and Leslie Amestoy and Roger Beasley, is a candidate for the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity at seven furlongs on Sept. 7.

“We’ll play it by ear, but that’s the route we’ll probably take,” Yakteen said.

On Sunday, McKinzie Street ($10.40) took the lead shortly after the start and pulled away to win by 3 1/2 lengths under jockey Kazushi Kimura, easily outfinishing 2-5 favorite Emerald Bay. McKinzie Street ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.02 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 81.

“You always dream,” Yakteen said. “He had trained well for his debut and he was drawn well.”

The win by Proud Starlet ($38.60) was more of a surprise. Ridden by Antonio Fresu and starting from an inside post, Proud Starlet led throughout and won by 4 1/4 lengths over 2-5 Usha. Owned by Trevor Smith, Proud Starlet ran 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:04.92 and earned a Beyer of 69.

The fact Proud Starlet won from the rail impressed Yakteen.

“I was expecting a good race, but was disappointed when she drew the rail,” he said. “I don’t think people are happy when they draw the rail with their first-time starters.”

The Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 7 is a goal for Proud Starlet.

Through Sunday, Yakteen had won four races from 19 runners at the current Del Mar meeting, which began on July 20 and continues through Sept. 8. Michael McCarthy and Phil D’Amato led the trainer’s standings with five wins. Yakteen was one of five trainers tied with four wins.

Yakteen will not contend for the overall title, but could surpass his career best of six wins at a Del Mar summer meeting achieved last year. On Sunday, Yakteen paid tribute to his stable staff for the sharp start.

“That’s a credit to my barn,” he said. “Am I deep enough to keep it going? I don’t know. This will be a tough weekend to top.”

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