Gran Premio Latinoamericano winner faces a deep field Saturday at Santa Anita with a Breeders’ Cup Mile berth on the line
ARCADIA, Calif. — South American champion Teao begins an ambitious new chapter Saturday at Santa Anita Park, where the winner of the Gran Premio Latinoamericano (G1) will make his North American debut against King of Gosford and several of California’s established turf runners in the Grade 2, $200,000 City of Hope Mile.
The one-mile turf contest carries implications well beyond Saturday. As part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, the winner receives an automatic, fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland.
For Teao, it represents an immediate opportunity to translate his South American success onto the international stage.
Trained in the United States by John Sadler, with Paco Lopez named to ride, Teao will break from post 1 and carry 126 pounds in his first test against North American competition.
The son of Ya Primo, bred and owned by Haras Don Alberto, arrives in California following the biggest victory of his career in the Gran Premio Latinoamericano, one of South America’s most prestigious races.
Saturday could also be the beginning of an even broader international campaign.
Teao has received a formal invitation from the Japan Racing Association to compete in the Japan Cup (G1) on November 29 in Tokyo, according to Haras Don Alberto. Whether that trip becomes part of his schedule will depend in part on how he progresses during his North American campaign.
First comes Santa Anita—and the assignment is anything but easy.
King of Gosford leads formidable opposition
Waiting for Teao is an accomplished group headed by King of Gosford, who seeks his third consecutive stakes victory for trainer Phil D’Amato.
King of Gosford captured the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile on August 22 in one of the closest turf finishes of the summer. Only a half-length separated the first four horses across the wire, and all four return Saturday for another showdown.
With Umberto Rispoli aboard, King of Gosford defeated Detain by a head, with El Potente another neck behind in third and Cabo Spirit completing the quartet in fourth.
Before the Del Mar Mile, King of Gosford won the restricted Wickerr Stakes over the same one-mile turf distance at Del Mar. He also owns a major victory over the Santa Anita course, having captured last year’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile.
The 5-year-old English-bred son of Zoustar has compiled nine victories from 22 career starts and surpassed the $1 million mark in earnings.
Rispoli retains the mount and brings his own impressive history into Saturday’s race. He has won the past two editions of the City of Hope Mile aboard Johannes.
Detain looking to turn the tables
Detain came within a head of King of Gosford at Del Mar and returns looking to reverse that result.
The Juddmonte homebred was making only his third U.S. start—and his first American stakes appearance—when he produced a powerful late rally under Juan Hernandez in the Del Mar Mile.
A Group 1-placed runner in France, the 4-year-old Irish-bred son of Wootton Bassett has four victories from 12 career starts. Trainer Michael McCarthy again gives the mount to Hernandez for Saturday’s rematch.
Detain will carry 122 pounds and break from post 4.
El Potente brings proven Santa Anita form
El Potente is another major threat and already has an established résumé over the Santa Anita turf.
Trained by Dan Blacker for My Way Racing, the 7-year-old son of Temple City won the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes earlier this season and finished a close second in the Grade 2 Frank E. Kilroe Mile, both at Santa Anita.
In the Del Mar Mile, El Potente tracked the pace established by Cabo Spirit, briefly took command in deep stretch and remained in contention until the final yards.
Regular rider Hector Berrios returns aboard El Potente, who owns seven victories from 19 starts and earnings of $420,796.
Cabo Spirit returns to familiar territory
Veteran Cabo Spirit brings experience and consistency into another edition of the City of Hope Mile.
The George Papaprodromou trainee finished second in this race last year and enters Saturday after setting the pace in the Del Mar Mile before yielding grudgingly in the stretch.
The 7-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile has made 44 career starts, winning seven times and earning more than $1.4 million.
Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith retains the mount.
Irish Aces, trained by Jeff Mullins and ridden by Joel Rosario, completes the six-horse field.
From South America to Santa Anita—and potentially the world
While the City of Hope Mile features one of the strongest groups of California-based turf milers, Teao adds a significant international dimension to Saturday’s race.
His Gran Premio Latinoamericano victory established him among the leading horses in South America. Now comes a very different challenge: a new country, a new racing environment and a field filled with horses proven over the American turf.
The potential rewards are substantial.
A victory Saturday would immediately guarantee Teao a place in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland. Beyond that sits the possibility of a trip to Tokyo for the Japan Cup, creating the potential for a campaign stretching from South America to California, Kentucky and Japan.
Those possibilities, however, begin with his performance at Santa Anita.
Grade 2 City of Hope Mile
Race 3 – Saturday at Santa Anita Park
One mile – Turf – $200,000
Approximate post time: 2 p.m. PT
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teao | Paco Lopez | 126 |
| 2 | El Potente | Hector Berrios | 124 |
| 3 | Cabo Spirit | Mike Smith | 124 |
| 4 | Detain | Juan Hernandez | 122 |
| 5 | Irish Aces | Joel Rosario | 122 |
| 6 | King of Gosford | Umberto Rispoli | 126 |
The City of Hope Mile is one of five stakes on Saturday’s Santa Anita program. The card also includes the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race offering an automatic berth into the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, along with the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship, Grade 2 Eddie D Stakes and Grade 3 John C. Harris Stakes.
For South American racing fans, however, much of the attention will be focused on post 1.
Teao conquered Latin America. On Saturday at Santa Anita, he begins the challenge of proving how far that success can take him on the world stage.
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