One of many annual marquee races on Santa Anita Park’s spring-summer calendar is held on Memorial Day. The $300,000, Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile Stakes often attracts the most effective turf milers in California together with some shippers from out of state to compete, and a strong area is lined up for this 12 months’s renewal.
In contrast to years previous, the Shoemaker Mile will not be a part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection in 2024, however a number of horses competing on Memorial Day will be anticipated to focus on the 41st World Championships at close by Del Mar in November.
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The Shoemaker Mile, named after legendary Southern California jockey Invoice Shoemaker, will probably be televised stay on FanDuel TV with a scheduled publish time of 9 p.m. ET. Get to know the entire runners plus some handicapping insights in ABR’s Cheat Sheet Offered by 1/ST BET.
1. Warfare At Sea
Jockey: Armando Ayuso
Coach: Ron Elllis
Proprietor: Doubledown Stables
Profession report: 18 begins – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 4 thirds
Profession earnings: $322,972
Earnings per begin: $17,943
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 113
Pedigree: Warfare Entrance – Serene Melody, by Avenue Cry
Age: 5
Shade: Bay
Working model: Stalker/nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This son of high turf sire Warfare Entrance has assembled a advantageous profession racing primarily in Southern California over the previous three-plus years with out ever breaking into the higher echelon of his division. Warfare At Sea has tallied two profession stakes wins, the primary in a 1 1/8-mile listed stakes at Santa Anita Park again in June 2022 and the second final November within the Golden Gate Handicap, which was run at 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather monitor at Golden Gate Fields. Within the 4 begins since then, he’s completed fourth, second twice, and most not too long ago eighth and crushed by eight lengths within the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes Offered by FanDuel TV held at 1 ¼ miles on Santa Anita’s turf. Warfare At Sea earned his finest profession Equibase Velocity Determine of 113 two begins again when he ran second to Johannes within the Grade 3 American Stakes going one mile at Santa Anita in April. If he can cycle again to that effort, he has an opportunity to fill within the exacta or trifecta Monday at good odds, particularly since there seems to be sufficient velocity lined up within the Shoemaker to arrange his off-the-pace rally. He’s a longshot to win, nevertheless.
Guess Warfare At Sea to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
2. Du Jour
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Bob Baffert
House owners: Jill Baffert and Debbie Lanni
Profession report: 17 begins – 6 wins – 3 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $1,118,220
Earnings per begin: $65,778
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 115
Pedigree: Temple Metropolis – Guiltless, by Bernardini
Age: 6
Shade: Bay
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: Corridor of Fame coach Bob Baffert has constructed his profession growing grime runners for the Triple Crown collection and the Breeders’ Cup, however occasionally he will get a top-class turf horse in his barn, and Du Jour is likely one of the finest he’s had. The Temple Metropolis gelding has earned greater than $1.1 million and received 4 stakes races since debuting in late 2020, capturing his first Grade 1 in his lead-in race to the Shoemaker when he accelerated by way of the stretch to win the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes at Santa Anita by two lengths in early March, incomes a career-best 115 Equibase Velocity Determine. Apart from a tenth-place end in final fall’s FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Offered by PDJF, Du Jour has been in nice kind for over a 12 months, and that features a sixth-place end in final 12 months’s Shoemaker the place he raced in tight quarters late however nonetheless completed solely 3 ¼ lengths out of first. There’s no cause to anticipate something lower than one other recreation effort Monday, and he ought to have a quick tempo to shut into as nicely. A principal win candidate with Flavien Prat within the irons. Prat received the 2018 Shoemaker aboard Hunt.
Guess Du Jour to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
3. There Goes Harvard
Jockey: Juan Hernandez
Coach: Michael McCarthy
Proprietor: Cannon Thoroughbreds
Profession report: 15 begins – 4 wins – 5 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $466,090
Earnings per begin: $31,073
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 109
Pedigree: Will Take Cost – Soul Crusader, by Fusaichi Pegasus
Age: 6
Shade: Chestnut
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: There Goes Harvard is a wild card contender within the Shoemaker Mile. He began his profession racing on grime in California for coach Michael McCarthy, after which was despatched to Kentucky the place he made two extra begins on grime earlier than switching to turf at Ellis Park throughout summer season 2021, leading to a maiden win after which a nostril loss in an allowance race. After yet another begin within the Bluegrass State – a runner-up end in a dust stakes at Ellis – There Goes Harvard moved again to McCarthy’s barn in California, the place he raced 5 instances in 2022 and twice final 12 months. His career-best race occurred in Might 2022, when he posted an upset win because the fourth betting selection in a five-horse area contesting the 1 ¼-mile, Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes on grime at Santa Anita. His three races since that triumph have been disappointing, though he’s additionally had bother initially in every of them. Extra regarding is the truth that this now 6-year-old horse has not began since March 2023, when he completed fifth within the Santa Anita Handicap Offered by Yamaava’ Resort & On line casino, one other 1 ¼-mile, Grade 1 stakes on grime. It’s exhausting to see him successful the Shoemaker Mile, but when he can recapture at the least a few of his kind from two years in the past, There Goes Harvard might fill out the trifecta or superfecta at what ought to be excessive odds. McCarthy received the 2021 Shoemaker Mile with Clean Like Strait, and jockey Juan Hernandez was aboard final 12 months’s winner, Exaulted.
Guess There Goes Harvard to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
4. Conclude
Jockey: Hector Berrios
Coach: Phil D’Amato
House owners: Little Purple Feather Racing, Madaket Stables, and the property of Brereton Jones
Profession report: 6 begins – 4 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $359,600
Earnings per begin: $59,933
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 114
Pedigree: Collected – Consider You Can, by Proud Citizen
Age: 4
Shade: Chestnut
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This 4-year-old Collected colt whose dam is 2012 Kentucky Oaks winner Consider You Can is an “upside” candidate to win the Shoemaker Mile as he’s proven the flexibility to deal with steps up in school by way of his six-start profession and enters Monday’s race having received three stakes in a row. He’ll have to beat a layoff of greater than 8 ½ months to proceed that streak, nevertheless, as he’s been away from competitors since posting a recreation head victory Sept. 3 within the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 2 Caesars Sportsbook Del Mar Derby (stablemate Almendares completed a size again in third). Conclude has been coaching nicely for his return in current weeks, and if he can resume that encouraging 2023 trajectory in his first begin at age 4, he ought to be proper within the combine on the finish for four-time Shoemaker-winning coach Phil D’Amato. Like a number of different starters, Conclude prefers to race on or near the tempo and he confirmed a willingness to answer stretch challenges in his begins final 12 months, which he would possibly have to summon once more.
Guess Conclude to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
5. Irideo
Jockey: Jeremy Laprida
Coach: Marcelo Polanco
Proprietor: Pozo de Luna
Profession report: 25 begins – 6 wins – 5 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $396,844
Earnings per begin: $15,874
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 108
Pedigree: Easing Alongside – Infiltrada, by Footstepsinthesand
Age: 8
Shade: Bay
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This Argentine-bred gelding is an efficient guess to path the Shoemaker Mile area early on, sitting nicely off of the leaders earlier than starting a sustained rally on the far flip. That’s been his M.O. ever since transferring from his native nation to the U.S. again in spring 2022, and it’s helped him accumulate nicely over $300,000 racing on the California circuit even when he’s solely picked up two stakes wins in 19 begins on this nation. In final 12 months’s Shoemaker Mile, Irideo was greater than 13 lengths off of the tempo after a half-mile earlier than rallying and ending in second, a half-length behind Exaulted, at odds of 41.70-1. Since then, he’s made eight begins with one on-the-board end, a nostril victory in his 2024 debut, the 6 ½-furlong Clocker’s Nook Stakes on Santa Anita’s turf in January. In his most up-to-date begin, Irideo failed to fireside within the one-mile, Grade 3 American Stakes in April at Santa Anita and completed seventh, crushed by 6 ½ lengths by winner Johannes. The proof at hand overwhelmingly means that Irideo will want a quick early tempo to have any likelihood at hitting the board on this aggressive renewal of the Shoemaker Mile, and that would occur with a number of forwardly positioned runners entered. A best-case situation might have him closing late to boost the exacta/trifecta payouts, whereas his win likelihood is distant.
Guess Irideo to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
6. Air Power Purple
Jockey: Edwin Maldonado
Coach: Leonard Powell
House owners: Eclipse Thoroughbred Companions and Holly Golightly
Profession report: 17 begins – 5 wins – 2 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $438,974
Earnings per begin: $25,822
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 118
Pedigree: Air Power Blue – Mesana, by Mizzen Mast
Age: 6
Shade: Bay
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This 6-year-old ridgling has competed nicely sufficient over the previous 12 months and a half however is winless in his final seven begins. Since tallying his solely graded stakes victory to this point within the Grade 2 Joe Hernandez Stakes going 6 ½ furlongs on turf at Santa Anita again in December 2022, Air Power Purple has completed second twice, third as soon as, and off the board in 4 different races. His two runner-up finishes over this span each got here by a head, together with his last-out effort, when he set a contested tempo within the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile Stakes at Golden Gate Fields April 27 however then drifted out within the stretch and couldn’t maintain off a rallying Lammas within the last strides. Air Power Purple did earn a career-best Equibase Velocity Determine of 118 in that outing, which tops the Shoemaker Mile area. Nonetheless, his lack of ability to complete off races is a priority in opposition to this high quality bunch, a number of of whom are in higher current kind. Search for him to be an early tempo issue on the very least.
Guess Air Power Purple to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
7. Dominican Pioneer
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
Coach: Wesley Ward
Proprietor: R. T Racing Steady
Profession report: 11 begins – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $398,923
Earnings per begin: $36,266
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 115
Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile – Heatherdoesntbluff, by Outdated Trieste
Age: 5
Shade: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Pacesetter/press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This ridgling is one in every of two Shoemaker Mile contenders delivery in from Kentucky for coach Wesley Ward together with Funtastic Once more. Dominican Pioneer has been aggressive since switching to turf for Ward in his fourth begin, successful three of eight races and ending second twice. He made his 4-year-old debut April 6 in a 1 1/16-mile allowance-optional claiming race at Keeneland and set the tempo regardless of preventing his rider early within the race, solely to float out after which in through the stretch run as he drained and completed second to Working Bee. That race’s winner subsequently completed third within the Grade 3 Dinner Social gathering Stakes Might 18 at Pimlico, whereas the third-place finisher on this stakes-quality allowance, Grasp Piece, got here again to win the Grade 2 Fort Marcy Stakes Might 4 at Belmont on the Massive A. The Keeneland effort ought to function a superb tune-up for Dominican Pioneer and he’s eligible to enhance in his second begin at age 5, however he could possibly be hard-pressed to maintain his front-running capacity competing in opposition to a number of Shoemaker foes who additionally desire to race on the lead.
Guess Dominican Pioneer to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
8. Funtastic Once more
Jockey: Frankie Dettori
Coach: Wesley Ward
Proprietor: Three Chimneys Farm
Profession report: 9 begins – 4 firsts – 1 second – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $348,694
Earnings per begin: $38,744
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 115
Pedigree: Funtastic – Repeta, by Damaged Vow
Age: 4
Shade: Chestnut
Working model: Press the tempo
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: Funtastic Once more ships from Kentucky together with Dominican Pioneer for coach Wesley Ward, and he enters the Shoemaker off of two high quality begins to date in his 4-year-old season. The chestnut colt received his 2024 debut, a 1 1/16-mile allowance-optional claiming race, by a widening three lengths on Turfway Park’s all-weather monitor, after which held the lead briefly on the high of the stretch earlier than weakening and settling for third within the 1 1/8-mile TwinSpires Kentucky Cup Basic Stakes in March, a Grade 3 race additionally held on Turfway’s all-weather monitor. Funtastic Once more has been at his finest on the all-weather floor, tallying three out of his 4 profession wins (the opposite got here on grime at Saratoga). He did run a strong second final Might within the James W. Murphy Stakes Offered by 4 Seasons of Baltimore on Pimlico’s turf course. Total, Funtastic Once more has an out of doors likelihood of pulling the upset within the Shoemaker Mile, however he could possibly be an element within the race even when he doesn’t win as one in every of a number of horses who ought to assist set up a quick early tempo with worldwide star jockey Frankie Dettori aboard.
Guess Funtastic Once more to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
9. Johannes
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Coach: Tim Yakteen
Proprietor: CUYATHY
Profession report: 8 begins – 4 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $243,859
Earnings per begin: $30,482
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 116
Pedigree: Nyquist – Cuyathy, by Congrats
Age: 4
Shade: Darkish bay or brown
Working model: Stalker
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: A number of different Shoemaker Mile entrants have extra spectacular résumés, however this son of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist belongs among the many high win contenders based mostly on the advance he confirmed in his first begin of 2024 – a 1 ¾-length win within the one-mile, Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita in early April. Johannes first turned heads on the finish of 2022, when, in profession begin quantity 4 and his first on turf, he romped by 9 lengths in a six-furlong dash at Santa Anita. He adopted that by successful two of three begins throughout 2023, each of them stakes races, and completed out the season in Might by delivery to Churchill Downs and ending fifth by two lengths within the 1 1/16-mile American Turf Stakes Offered by BMW. Coach Tim Yakteen gave the colt a protracted relaxation after that race, and Johannes got here again higher than ever within the American Stakes, incomes a career-best 116 Equibase Velocity Determine. Repeating that effort places him proper within the combine to win the Shoemaker Mile, and his stalking operating model could possibly be advantageous Monday if he’s in a position to work out a superb journey behind a projected quick tempo and get first run on the leaders within the stretch. Jockey Umberto Rispoli received this race in 2021 aboard Clean Like Strait.
Guess Johannes to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
10. Goliad
Jockey: Kyle Frey
Coach: Richard Mandella
House owners: Perry Bass II and Ramona Bass
Profession report: 17 begins – 4 wins – 4 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $262,871
Earnings per begin: $15,463
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 113
Pedigree: Warfare Entrance – Choreograph, by Dynaformer
Age: 7
Shade: Bay
Working model: Pacesetter
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: Corridor of Fame coach Richard Mandella has received the Shoemaker Mile thrice, and can ship out possible pacesetter Goliad in hopes of successful his fourth. The Warfare Entrance gelding has led on the first level of name in eight of his final 9 races, together with three wins in that span. The victories got here racing one mile on turf in an allowance-optional claiming race at Del Mar in September 2022; an allowance-optional claiming race held at one mile on Santa Anita’s turf again in January; and his lone profession stakes win, the Grade 3 Thunder Street Stakes in early February on the similar course and distance. He opened up a transparent benefit early in all three races and had sufficient within the tank to prevail, however within the 5 different races since September 2022 he couldn’t seal the deal. In his one race for the reason that Thunder Street, Goliad took an early two-length lead within the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes in March however yielded in higher stretch and completed sixth, 8 ¼ lengths behind winner Du Jour. The standard of Monday’s area within the Shoemaker is simply nearly as good, if not higher, than the group Goliad confronted within the Kilroe Mile, which makes him a longshot as a win candidate. Goliad’s presence, together with a number of different forwardly-placed runners, ought to guarantee a quick tempo within the Shoemaker.
Guess Goliad to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
11. Easter
Jockey: Antonio Fresu
Coach: Phil D’Amato
Proprietor: Madaket Stables
Profession report: 20 begins – 7 wins – 4 seconds – 3 thirds
Profession earnings: $627,910
Earnings per begin: $31,396
Prime Equibase Velocity Determine: 114
Pedigree: Exosphere – Wonderful Woman, by Exceed and Excel
Age: 6
Shade: Bay
Working model: Nearer
Notable achievements and attention-grabbing details: This French import put all of it collectively final fall for coach Phil D’Amato, successful three consecutive stakes races on turf, together with two Grade 2s, to shut out his 5-year-old season. Previous to that, Easter had run competitively since transferring to the U.S. from his house nation in 2022 however with out a stakes victory. He returned for his 6-year-old season within the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes March 3 and ran nicely however was no match for Du Jour late, ending second by two lengths. Easter ought to transfer ahead off of that race and is a win risk within the Shoemaker Mile, though he’ll be matching up in opposition to Du Jour once more together with a number of different achieved turf runners. Search for him to be rolling late by way of the stretch if he will get a quick tempo to chop into.
Guess Easter to win the Shoemaker Mile Stakes.
