On to the Pegasus After Johannes' San Gabriel Score
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Johannes gets a pat on the neck from Umberto Rispoli after winning the San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Cuyathy's Johannes has emerged from his three-quarter-length win in the $202,000 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita Park in good shape and will continue his march forward to the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1T) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 25.
"He's come out of the race in excellent order," trainer Tim Yakteen reported Dec. 30. "If he continues to do well, we plan on hitting the Pegasus."
The San Gabriel capped a tremendous 5-for-6 campaign for Johannes, earning just short of $1 million in 2024. His lone defeat came by just three-quarters of a length to More Than Looks in the final strides of the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Del Mar. His five graded stakes victories that included a win in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita in May has put the 4-year-old son of Nyquist in contention for an Eclipse Award as Champion Turf Male.
"His record has one blemish on it where we came up just a little bit short, but he has shown up every single start this year. That is what defines a champion," Yakteen said. "He's been a pleasure to train. He makes us look good. He's obviously a special horse, he's gifted, and a joy to have around."
Johannes' trainer Tim Yakteen and jockey Umberto Rispoli share a moment after winning the San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Regardless of the outcome at the Jan. 23 Eclipse ceremony, Yakteen is focused on the Pegasus—a race that was penciled in on the schedule since the Breeders' Cup defeat. His San Gabriel win at the same 1 1/8-mile distance as the Pegasus will certainly place him among the favorites.
Yakteen said Johannes will remain in California for his preparations before shipping into Gulfstream the week of the race. Should Johannes perform well, it could mean a possible start in the $5 million Dubai Turf (G1) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup (G1) night April 5.
"We'll probably give him a breather after the Pegasus," Yakteen said. "We have to take it one race at a time, but the Dubai Turf would be a possibility. There would be plenty of spacing for us from Jan. 25 to April 5."
Ultimately, the 2025 goal is to avenge Johannes' defeat in the Breeders' Cup.
"We'll back ourselves out of (the Breeders' Cup) and eventually come out with a campaign that will suit us well to have him show up Breeders' Cup day and see if we can be a little more successful in 2025 than we were in 2024," Yakteen said.