Last summer, Johannes won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes in the third start of a six-race campaign that featured five stakes wins and a game second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar.
This summer, the $250,000 Read Stakes is tentatively scheduled to be the first start of the year for Johannes, trainer Tim Yakteen said over the weekend.
“We won’t make any commitments until we get closer to the race, but the Eddie Read is in our backyard and a logical spot,” Yakteen said. “He’s doing well.”
Johannes, owned and bred by Joe and Debby McCloskey, has not raced since a win in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Dec. 26 at Santa Anita. Johannes missed a scheduled start in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park after he was turned out earlier that month for what Yakteen described as “bone bruising.”
Johannes resumed workouts in mid-May. On Sunday at Santa Anita, Johannes worked six furlongs in 1:13.
“I’m real happy with how he’s doing,” Yakteen said. “He’s always been a straightforward horse.”
The Read is one of the leading turf races of the Del Mar summer meeting, which runs from July 18-Sept. 7.
Even though Johannes is unbeaten in two starts at 1 1/8 miles on turf, Yakteen said the distance of the Read is not ideal for a comeback. He did not mention an alternative race.
“It’s a longer distance than our preferred distance to come back at,” Yakteen said.
The Read frequently draws a competitive field. This year’s running is expected to include Gold Phoenix and Balnikhov, who were second and third in the 2023 Read. Balnikhov and Gold Phoenix were third and seventh, respectively, in the 2024 Read.
Formidable Man, winner of the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita in March, is expected to run in the Read. Formidable Man finished fourth by 1 1/4 lengths to King of Gosford in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on May 26 at Santa Anita. Formidable Man closed from eighth of 10 to be nearest the front at the wire.
“I thought we were farther back than I would have liked,” trainer Michael McCarthy said Sunday.
Formidable Man won twice at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Del Mar last year in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in September and Grade 1 Hollywood Derby in November.
Phil D’Amato, who also trains Balnikhov and Gold Phoenix, said Sunday that King of Gosford is a candidate for the Read or the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on Aug. 30.
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