Johannes makes his return in competitive renewal of G1 FanDuel Fourstardave; Test Preview

Posted On 29 Jul 2025

By Mary Eddy —-

Johannes makes his return in competitive renewal of G1 FanDuel Fourstardave

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – CUYATHY’s multiple graded stakes-winning Kentucky homebred Johannes will make his anticipated return in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 FanDuel Fourstardave, a one-mile inner turf test for older horses, at Saratoga Race Course.

The Fourstardave [Race 8] is one of five graded stakes on Saturday’s loaded Grade 1, $1 million Whitney card, headlined by the $1 million nine-furlong test for older horses in Race 11. The 13-race card will also feature the Grade 1, $750,000 Saratoga Derby Invitational in Race 9, the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster in Race 10, and the Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special in Race 3. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

The Fourstardave is a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November at Del Mar.

Johannes, a five-time graded stakes-winner for conditioner Tim Yakteen, returns from a more than eight-month layoff dating to a three-quarter-length score in the Grade 2 San Gabriel on December 26 at Santa Anita Park. The win marked his fifth consecutive race that earned a triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure, all coming in Grade 1 or Grade 2 events.

Yakteen said he is pleased with the way the son of Nyquist has trained since returning to the work tab in late May. He worked a sharp five-furlongs in 1:00.40 handily over Del Mar’s main track on July 26 in his final work before shipping to the Empire State.

“We’re doing good. It’s a long way to travel if we’re not doing good,” Yakteen said, with a laugh. “He had his final prep and we’re all set. We’re happy with the way he’s doing, so let’s see if we can have some luck here.”

Last year, Johannes asserted himself among the top of this division with a tremendous campaign that was highlighted by a Grade 1 conquest in Santa Anita Park’s Shoemaker Mile in May as part of a four-race win streak, all in graded events. He followed next out with a 2 1/2-length coup of the Grade 2 Eddie Read at Del Mar that garnered a career-best 103 Beyer, the same number he would earn for a three-quarter-length second to More Than Looks in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile in November.

Johannes closed out the year with his determined victory in the San Gabriel, and emerged from that effort with mild bone bruising, leading to his layoff. Yakteen said he has had the Fourstardave circled on the calendar for some time, and that the 5-year-old dark bay looks as good as ever physically.

“He’s one of those horses that makes my job easy. He always maintains himself very well and he looks great,” Yakteen said. “We’re coming into it in great shape. He pretty much looks identical [to December]. He’s always a horse that carries a great coat and he carries his condition well. It’s been an uneventful trip back to his first race, and hopefully we’ll continue with that this week.”

Johannes made one start at Churchill Downs for trainer Bill Morey to start his career in 2022, and aside from one other trip to Churchill to finish off-the-board in the 2023 Grade 2 American Turf, has not started outside of California.

Yakteen said he is confident Johannes will be able to take his talents on the road with regular pilot Umberto Rispoli slated to ride from post 3.

“It’s a big ask, but I think he’s up to the task. He handled the ship well before,” Yakteen said. “Umberto knows him well. He’s been very versatile and I think that’s his asset. It’s always nice when you have that.”

Johannes is the highest-earning horse Yakteen has conditioned since he began training in 2004, making him a special horse for the barn.

“He’s obviously been a flagship horse,” Yakteen said. “He’s been a joy to be around and we’ll miss him when he does retire, but we’re looking forward to his comeback and to this season.”

Fellow Grade 1-winner Deterministic [post 8, Kendrick Carmouche] will provide steep opposition as he enters from his first top-level score in the $750,000 Resorts World Casino Manhattan on June 8 here.

Trained by Miguel Clement, the son of Liam’s Map was fitting of his name last out when holding on by a head to win the nine-furlong Manhattan, fending off the oncoming Integration while 4 1/2 lengths better than multiple Grade 1-winning stablemate Far Bridge, who exited to win the Grade 2 Bowling Green here on July 12. Deterministic earned a career-best 100 Beyer for the effort.

Clement said he expects the 4-year-old colt to handle the cutback to the distance that saw him win last year’s Grade 3 Gotham over a sloppy and sealed main track at Aqueduct Racetrack.

“He’s training spectacular,” Clement said. “His weight, color, training are all great. He won the Gotham over a mile and he’s got the speed to do it. I don’t think it will be an issue.”

Deterministic has flourished since being moved to the turf last summer, never missing the board in seven outings over the lawn. He notched a pair of Grade 3 wins last year in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs and Hill Prince at Aqueduct, and added Belmont at the Big A’s nine-furlong Grade 2 Fort Marcy to his ledger in May when setting a course record.

Clement said he has been impressed by Deterministic’s recent works, including a half-mile in 48.04 seconds on July 6 over Saratoga’s Oklahoma turf training track.

“He’s had three very good works in a row and he’s moving great and eating phenomenal,” Clement said. “He’s very versatile and can go to the front if you want him to, or can be stalking if you need him to. Whatever Kendrick wants to do, he can do.”

Deterministic is campaigned by St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable.

Five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown sends out the pair of dual Grade 1-winning New York-bred Spirit of St Louis [post 7, Manny Franco] and the up-and-coming Intellect [post 6, Flavien Prat].

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn’s Spirit of St Louis cuts back to one mile for the first time since an even fifth in the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile in October at Keeneland. The 6-year-old Medaglia d’Oro gelding is 3-for-4 at Saturday’s distance, including a trio of stakes wins last year.

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Spirit of St Louis notched his biggest wins this year when stepping up into the graded ranks. He captured the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park two starts before a three-quarter-length annexing of the Grade 1 Turf Classic on May 3 at Churchill Downs. He enters off a flat sixth in the Manhattan, seven lengths back of Deterministic.

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Steven Bouchey’s Intellect has hit the board in each of his three starts for Brown since moving stateside from his native France. He finished third at first asking off a one-year layoff in a 1 1/16-mile allowance tilt in April at Keeneland ahead of Grade 3 runner-up efforts in the Poker and Kelso, both over course and distance.

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse will send out Gary Barber’s Grade 1-placed My Boy Prince on the heels of a narrow loss to the late Canadian Horse of the Year Patches O’Houlihan in the Grade 2 Highlander on June 28 at Woodbine. He stalked the pace set by that rival in the six-furlong sprint and was poised to sweep past in the stretch, but Patches O’Houlihan dug in and won by a neck.

My Boy Prince stretches out from three consecutive sprint starts, including a win in the Listed Elusive Quality in May at Belmont at the Big A and a second in the Grade 1 Jaipur on June 8 here. He figures to be a pace presence as he makes his first start at a flat mile since a ninth in the Grade 3 Bryan Station in October at Keeneland.

“He likes a little bit of harder ground, so hopefully we can go awhile without rain. I think this turf course is made for him with the tighter turns,” Casse said. “He’s a little athlete and he can kind of scoot around them with his speed. He’s coming off the sprint races, so he’s going to be up very close to the pace.”

My Boy Prince, the Sovereign Award-winner as Canada’s Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in 2023, will exit post 2 in rein to Jose Ortiz.

Casse will also send out Live Oak Plantation’s Win for the Money [post 5, Dylan Davis] on the heels of a third to returning rival Think Big in the Grade 3 Kelso on July 5 over course and distance. The 6-year-old Mohaymen chestnut notched his lone graded score in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile last year, which saw him equal a career-best 102 Beyer.

Completing the field are last-out Grade 3 Kelso-winner Think Big [post 4, Luis Saez] for trainer Michael Stidham; three-time graded stakes-winner Neat [post 10, Junior Alvarado] for trainer Rob Atras; Grade 3-winner Lagynos [post 9, Joel Rosario] for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen; and dual graded stakes-placed Cugino [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

Saratoga Live will present live coverage and analysis of the summer meet at Saratoga Race Course on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the summer meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Echo Sound making noise in G1 Test presented by Ticketmaster
By Christian Abdo

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Gabriel Duignan’s Echo Sound enters from back-to-back graded wins and looks to make more noise in Saturday’s 100th running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Test presented by Ticketmaster, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Rusty Arnold, the Echo Town bay captured the six-furlong Grade 3 Miss Preakness on May 16 at Pimlico Race Course ahead of a last-out 4 1/4-length annexing of the Grade 3 Victory Ride sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on July 3 here.

In the Victory Ride, a race named for the Arnold-trained 2001 Grade 1 Test-victor, Echo Sound tracked the pacesetting Hollygrove through a half-mile in 44.85 seconds on the fast dirt, taking command in the turn under returning rider Luis Saez and separating from runner-up returning rival Beauty Reigns in a final time of 1:15.49. The performance earned a career and field-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I think she ran well and she has never had a bad effort,” said Arnold. “She’s run good in every race she’s ever been in. She got beat once and she was second.”

Echo Sound [post 6, Luis Saez] won 3-of-4 starts as a juvenile, taking the Myrtlewood in October at Keeneland before a runner-up effort in the Fern Creek in November at Churchill Downs to cap her campaign.

“She came back stronger at three,” Arnold said. “Hopefully, she’ll keep going forward from here. We’re going to find out on Saturday.”

Bred by Duignan at his Springhouse Farm along with Vision TBs, Bruce Pieratt and Patricia Pieratt, Echo Sound is a half-sister to Grade 2-winner Pick of the Litter out of the late Fusaichi Pegasus mare Eagle Sound – a half-sister to Grade 2-winner Wild Syn.

Arnold entered another top contender in BBN Racing’s Kilwin [post 2, Jose Ortiz], the last-out 1 1/4-length winner of the seven-furlong Leslie’s Lady on June 8 at Churchill Downs. There, the Twirling Candy bay was making her dirt debut, earning a career-best 96 Beyer and her first victory since the $1 million Untapable in September at Kentucky Downs in her second of five turf starts.

Kilwin was also a solid fifth-place in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Del Mar. She squared off against well-regarded Shisospicy in her first two outings this year when sixth in the Listed Limestone in April at Keeneland and second in the Grade 3 Mamzelle in May at Churchill Downs.

“Hopefully, they both get good trips and run well,” Arnold said. “Kilwin was pretty good on the turf. I don’t know if she ran better on dirt because she won a million dollar race on turf… can’t complain about that. Her dirt race was good and opened up some new options for us.”

Kilwin is a half-sister to Grade 2-winning millionaire One Timer and Grade 1-placed Just Basking out of the Blame mare Spanish Star, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Belmont Stakes-winner Sir Winston. Her second dam is Grade 1-placed La Gran Bailadora.

“Grade 1s are hard to find for 3-year-old filly sprinters, and this is the one we found,” said Arnold. “Unfortunately for me, they’re both in the same race. I would rather have two different spots, but there weren’t any.”

Arnold has already enjoyed sophomore filly graded success at the Saratoga summer meet, sending out Daisy Flyer to win the turf Grade 3 Lake George presented by Surfside on July 26.

Hall of Famer Bill Mott brings Grade 3-placed Beauty Reigns [post 8, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and 2-for-2 Ragtime [post 1, Junior Alvarado] as he seeks his first win in this event since Dream Supreme in 2000. He also won with Missed the Storm in 1993.

Tranquility Lake Farms’ Beauty Reigns, an Into Mischief gray, enters from a pair of sprint stakes placings here when third in the Jersey Girl to Indy Bay and second in the Victory Ride. She has hit the board in all five career sprint starts including her most recent win in a May 2 optional claimer at Churchill Downs.

Out of the unraced Tapit mare Ilsa, Beauty Reigns’ second dam is 2009 Broodmare of the Year Sweet Life, who produced multiple Grade 1-winners Sweet Catomine and Life Is Sweet.

Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred Ragtime enters from a 4 1/4-length allowance score versus elders over course and distance on July 5. The Union Rags chestnut earned a career-best 96 Beyer and validated a 3 3/4-length debut score over the same course on June 6, which received an 86.

Ragtime is a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Snowbell out of the 2007 Grade 2 Honorable Miss-winner Burmilla, a full-sister to dual graded stakes-winner Magicalmysterycat.

CSLR Racing Partners’ Grade 3-winner Cash Call [post 4, Flavien Prat] ships in for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert on a three-race win streak at Santa Anita Park. The McKinzie bay graduated third-out sprinting six furlongs in April, stepped up to dominate an optional claimer at the same distance in May, and stretched out to win the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Summertime Oaks last out on June 7.

Baffert has won this event previously with subsequent Champion Female Sprinters Indian Blessing [2008] and Gamine [2020], as well as with Contested [2012].

Cash Call is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Strategic Dreams out of the winning D’wildcat mare D’fashion, a half-sister to Grade 1-placed Express Tour and stakes-winner Kitty Cat Express. She was a $600,000 purchase at the 2024 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

Reddam Racing’s Look Forward [post 3, Umberto Rispoli] was a last-out three-length runner-up to La Cara in the nine-furlong Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn on June 6 here. Trained by Michael McCarthy, the Bolt d’Oro bay edged Scottish Lassie for place-honors, and that rival returned to trounce the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 19 here.

Look Forward, aside from the classy top-level placing last out, has done some of her best running around one turn. She captured the seven-furlong Grade 2 Eight Belles on May 2 at Churchill Downs as well the Listed Santa Ynez going the same distance in January at Santa Anita.

Look Forward, a $285,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale out of the winning Into Mischief mare Troublesome, is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Amidst Waves.

Rounding out the field are two-time winner Me and Molly McGee [post 5, Frankie Dettori] for trainer Peter Eurton and stakes-placed Artisma [post 7, John Velazquez] for conditioner Richard Baltas – the respective one-two finishers of a six-furlong allowance versus elders on June 22 at Churchill Downs.

The Test is slated as Race 10 on Saturday’s 13-race card, which features the Grade 1 Whitney [Race 11]– a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic– the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational [Race 9], Grade 1 FanDuel Fourstardave [Race 8] – a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile– and Grade 2 Saratoga Special [Race 3]. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.