Cuyathy LLC’s homebred colt, Johannes, turned in yet another impressive performance to win the G2 City of Hope Mile by one-and-a-quarter lengths at Santa Anita on Saturday, 28 September.
The victory secured the four-year-old son of Nyquist a spot in the starting gate for the G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile on 2 November.
Sent off as the heavy favorite to add to earlier wins in the G1 Shoemaker Mile, G2 Eddie Read and G3 American Stakes, Johannes saved ground along the inside rail early as multiple Graded Stakes winner Conclude went to the front to set the pace.
Johannes continued hugging the rail down the backstretch and into the far turn, then shot through an opening between rivals at the top of the stretch to take the lead. The dark bay colt then hit another gear and began to pull away, eventually crossing the wire ahead of Almandares, who just edged Conclude for second.
Johannes was bred in Kentucky and is out of the mare Cuyathy, a Stakes-placed daughter of Congrats. In addition to Johannes, Cuyathy is the dam of the two-year-old filly, Sea Runner (Gun Runner), who was recently third in the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. Cuyathy herself is a half-sister to multiple Graded Stakes-placed Join in the Dance, and the family also boasts of such standouts as Pennyhill Park (Champion Older Mare in Canada), Elm Drive (G2 Sorrento Stakes, G3 Monrovia) and Mother Of Dragons (California Governor’s Handicap).
Nyquist having an outstanding year and has been represented by four G1 winners so far. In addition to Johannes, Nyquist is also the sire of Randomized (G1 Ogden Phipps) and the two talented juvenile fillies – Tenma, winner of G1 Del Mar Debutante, and Immersive, winner of G1 Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga.
