Rising Star Johannes made two turns look easy, taking the $100,000 Pasadena Stakes By 3 ½ lengths. (Ernie Belmont/Past The Wire)
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.— In the words of Track Announcer Frank Mirahmadi, “The sky is the limit for Johannes,” and who could argue following his 3 ½ length cakewalk in Sunday’s $100,000 Pasadena Stakes at Santa Anita. In his first time going a route of ground for trainer Tim Yakteen, the 3-year-old colt by Nyquist got one mile on turf in a rapid 1:33.79 while well within himself.
Owned and bred in Kentucky by Cuyathy, LLC, Johannes came off an impressive win going about 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf on March 5 and was making his sixth career start today.
A well-measured third, about three lengths off pacesetter Wizard of Westwood three furlongs out, Johannes drew alongside Game Time and Juan Hernandez while three-deep turning for home and from there, he reached for the wire with seeming effortless precision under a confident hand ride from Rispoli.
“It’s onward and upward,” said Yakteen. “It was a small field, but I think it was a great stepping stone for us to validate that we can two-turn. I’ll get together with Joe (McCloskey, who races as Cuyathy, LLC) and come up with a game plan and see if we can have some fun. Very nice. We are very happy.”
“The thing that made me believe he could run a mile, was last time going down the hill, he was so relaxed out of the gate, and he was kind of push button,” said Rispoli, who has been aboard for all three wins.
“Today, It was a little messy going down the hill … he came out of the gate like, “What am I going to do?’ and as soon as I put him in behind horses, he switched off and from there it was just a matter of letting him run …. Unfortunately, I couldn’t have the spot I wanted, so I had to wait until the sixteenth of a mile … My hands got itchy around the turn and finally I was happy to let him run … and he was much the best in that race, and he proved that again today. … I think he is just starting to understand the game. … I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him.”
“I have to give credit to Tim; I think he does an amazing job and thank you to the owners too,” Rispoli added.
A 1 ¼ length winner of the downhill Baffle March 5, Johannes was the overwhelming 1-5 favorite today versus three sophomore rivals and paid $2.60 and $2.10 with no show wagering.
Out of the Congrats mare Cuyathy, Johannes is unbeaten in his last three starts since switching to turf for a nine-length maiden win at six furlongs here on Dec. 31. With the winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $170,059.
Game Time, who pressured Wizard of Westwood to the top of the stretch, was second best, finishing three quarters of a length in front of him and paid $2.40 to show as the second choice at 5-2.
Fractions on the Pasadena were 22.75, 46.63, 1:10.18 and 1:22.08.
