Santa Anita Park holds its major Saturday card, but yields no joy for South America
Teao was ultimately scratched from the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2), where Cabo Spirit earned a spot in the Breeders’ Cup, while Brazilian-bred Sinsel finished last and far back in the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes(G2), which was dominated in convincing fashion by Atitlan. Sorrento Sky and the unbeaten Little Opal also shone
ARCADIA, California (Special for Turf Diario).— What promised to be a banner Saturday for South American racing at Santa Anita Park ended in disappointment, leaving hopes on this side of the continent reserved for another day. Chilean standout Teao (Ya Primo) was ultimately scratched from the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2), while Brazilian import Sinsel (Alpha) was unable to recreate his finest form, finishing a distant last in the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2).
Aside from the Goodwood Stakes (G1), where Forged Steel (Vekoma) spearheaded a 1-2 sweep for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. over Caldera (Liam's Map), the card featured several high-profile graded events that yielded impressive individual performances.
Among them was Cabo Spirit, who at 7 years old proved once again that his competitive drive remains fully intact.
With Mike Smith managing his energy to perfection, the son of Pioneerof the Nile captured the City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2-1,600 m, turf, US$ 200,000) while securing an automatic, fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile(G1).
The late withdrawal of Teao, winner of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) who was slated to make his North American debut, robbed the field of one of its most anticipated contenders.
Cabo Spirit seized control from the outset, establishing the lead through an easy opening quarter of 23s47 before incrementally quickening through half-mile and three-quarter splits of 46s91 and 1m10s36.
El Potente (Temple City) tracked his moves glued to the inside fence throughout, and the pair engaged in a thrilling duel down the lane. Cabo Spirit drifted out toward mid-track under pressure, but Smith, knowing his mount's quirks, refrained from over-correcting. At the wire, he held on by a head in a final time of 1m33s06, with King of Gosford(Zoustar) finishing third, 3 1/4 lengths further back.
This marked the sixth graded stakes triumph and seventh overall black-type victory for Cabo Spirit, who boosted his career earnings past US$ 1.5 million while recording his first win since the San Gabriel Stakes (G3) last December.
Atitlan Outclasses the Competition
While the scratch of Teao left the City of Hope Mile without Chilean representation, South American fortunes proved even grimmer in the John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2-2,000 m, turf, US$ 200,000).
Sinsel, making his second start since arriving from Brazil, failed to get involved at any stage and finished dead last, a far cry from the performance expected following his troubled U.S. debut in the Del Mar Mile Stakes (G2).
Out in front, favorite Atitlan asserted his dominance with absolute authority. Jockey Umberto Rispoli mapped out a ideal trip behind a blistering pace, letting his mount travel comfortably before making his move entering the far turn. From there, the result was never in doubt.
The son of The Factor accelerated powerfully through the lane to defeat 16-1 longshot Flashiest (Mizzen Mast) by 2 1/4 lengths, with Mondego (Lope de Vega) finishing third, a half-length further back.
Atitlan covered the 2,000 meters in 1m58s35 to secure his fifth victory in 15 career starts. For trainer Richard Mandella, who took over the horse following the passing of John Shirreffs, the victory carried special emotional weight.
“John did all the foundation work and built a great horse. I just had to polish the apple,” the trainer reflected.
Stakes Double for Rispoli
Roughly an hour earlier, Rispoli had already visited the winner's circle aboard Sorrento Sky (Prince of Lir) in the Eddie D Stakes (G2), contested over the unique 1,300-meter downhill turf course.
The Phil D’Amato trainee confirmed his remarkable progress since being gelded, rallying from seventh with a potent stretch turn of foot to edge Sumter (War Front) by a length, with mare Amorita (Liam's Map) a neck behind in third.
Sorrento Sky stopped the clock in 1m12s30, stringing together his second consecutive G2 victory following his triumph in the Green Flash Handicap.
“He’s a completely transformed horse,” Rispoli noted, emphasizing that he can now relax behind horses and save his explosive kick for the drive.
The card's other rising star was Little Opal, who kept her unbeaten record intact with a front-running victory in the John C. Harris Stakes (G3). Bred and owned by Donald Dizney and trained by Doug O’Neill, the daughter of Caravaggio was making her stakes debut following back-to-back wins at Del Mar.
Jockey Emisael Jaramillo sent her straight to the front from the break and never looked back, controlling the tempo through fractions of 22s00 and 44s34 before repelling a stretch challenge from Day to Day (McKinzie) to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1m12s76. Mo’ Em Down (Caracaro) completed the placings in third.
Santa Anita Park delivered brilliant performances throughout the afternoon, even if the South American contingent came up short. Teao never made it to the gate, and Sinsel was a shadow of the star performer he was in Brazil. For Cabo Spirit, Atitlan, Sorrento Sky, and Little Opal, however, it was a Saturday to treasure.
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