Atitlan in the John Henry Turf, Benoit Photo
Santa Anita Park Press
ARCADIA, CA —Odds-on favorite Atitlan launched a rally on the final turn and rolled to an authoritative victory in the Grade II, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship Saturday at Santa Anita.
With Umberto Rispoli aboard, Atitlan (4-5) scored by 2 ¼ lengths over longshot runner-up Flashiest (16-1), who was ridden by Armando Ayuso and is trained by Leonard Powell. It was another half-length back to 5-2 second choice Mondego and jockey Juan Hernandez in third. Atomic Age (5-1), ridden by Kazushi Kimura, completed the superfecta.
“This was my second time riding him and I had a very sweet trip,” Rispoli said. “There was a lot of pace in the race. The horse found his spot and had a smooth trip. He secured an ideal position. Once I hit the final turn, I knew he was dragging me up there. He had such a nice turn of foot to win the race in a very easy way.
About an hour prior to the John Henry, Rispoli also won the GII Eddie D Stakes aboard favorite Sorrento Sky for trainer Phil D’Amato.
Atitlan in his previous start came up a neck short of winner Test Score in the GII Del Mar Handicap with Rispoli aboard going 1 3/8 miles. This was his third start following a 10 ½-month layoff and third for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. Prior to the layoff, Atitlan made his first 12 starts for trainer John Shirreffs, who died in February at the age of 80. Atitlan last year won the GII Charles S. Whittingham, also at 1 ¼ miles on turf, for Shirreffs.
“He has been a piece of cake,” Mandella said of the winner. “John Shirreffs did the groundwork and created a good horse. I just got to polish the apple, that is all.”
Atitlan won in a time of 1:58.35 following splits of 22.58, 46.40, 1:10.93 and 1:35.78 for the opening mile.
A 5-year-old horse by The Factor, Atitlan is owned by John M.B. O’Connor. He improved to 15: 5-1-4 with nearly $550,000 in earnings.
Atitlan paid $3.80, $2.60 and $2.10. Flashiest returned $10.00 and $4.40. Mondego, trained by Michael McCarthy, paid $2.40.
GRADE II, JOHN HENRY TURF CHAMPIONSHIP STAKES QUOTES
JOCKEY QUOTES
UMBERTO RISPOLI, ATITLAN, WINNER: “This was my second time riding him and I had a very sweet trip. There was a lot of pace in the race. The horse found his spot and had a smooth trip. He secured an ideal position. Once I hit the final turn, I knew he was dragging me up there. He had such a nice turn of foot to win the race in a very easy way.
“Once he gets the lead, he can lose his focus a little bit. That’s what he did there actually right after the wire. He was looking for friends, but he’s always been a little bit of a character. He’s getting better now and it was a special win.”
TRAINER QUOTES
RICHARD MANDELLA, ATITLAN, WINNER: “He has been a piece of cake. John Shirreffs did the groundwork and created a good horse. I just got to polish the apple that is all.”
NOTES: The winning owner is John M. B. O’Connor.
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