By now Johannes needs no introduction.
The 5-year-old Nyquist colt had his four-race win streak snapped when second to More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Turf but managed to close his 4-year-old season with an authoritative win in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes.
Johannes was no secret in the Mile, going off as the 4.4-1 third choice in the field of 10, but that runner-up finish definitely elevated his esteem. But thankfully, as a supporter of his, not so much that he will be overbet in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park.
Make no mistake, there are a solid dozen invitees for one of America’s most lucrative turf races outside the Breeders’ Cup, but Johannes just seems better than these. He is undefeated in two starts at this distance on the turf and has won with both pressing and mid-pack trips. There does not seem to be much that gets in the way of this Tim Yakteen trainee.
Nations Pride is certain to attract attention, but I think it is interesting he has not been less than 1 3/16 miles since his 2-year-old season. Tthis might be a sharp trip for him, and that performance in Bahrain last out does not give the warm and fuzzies.
Mi Hermano Ramon was second to Johannes last out, missing by just three-quarters of a length at 9.7-1. Johannes was 3-10, and a similar price discrepancy is likely here. There could be some value in this also-ran last out.
Big-time trainers Chad Brown, Mark Casse, Shug McGaughey and Todd Pletcher have seven of the 12 invitees among them, and they are the types of names who attract money in spots like this. Redistricting for Brown is perhaps the most interesting, but I don’t think the value will be there on him let alone the others conditioned by these eventual or current Hall of Fame trainers.
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