Johannes stamped himself as a horse to watch in the turf mile division with an explosive win in the $100,000 American Stakes (G3T) April 4 at Santa Anita Park.
The 4-year-old Nyquist colt was making his first start since a troubled fifth-place finish in the American Turf (G2) at Churchill Downs on May 6, 2023. Back on his familiar Southern California turf, Johannes and jockey Umberto Rispoli stalked from third place on the inside as leader Air Force Red stretched the field out with fractions of :21.85, :44.98, and 1:08.57.
Rispoli guided Johannes off the fence and surged to the lead just inside the eighth pole. He stopped the timer in 1:32.08 for the mile over a firm turf. The time was .39 of a second off the course record, set by Vyjack in the 2016 City of Hope Mile Stakes (G2)
Rispoli, born in Italy, sent a kiss toward the sky after he crossed the wire. He later said it was for his friend Stefano Cherchi, a…
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