GRADE I WINNER KING OF GOSFORD RETURNS SATURDAY IN THE GRADE III AMERICAN STAKES

By Victor Ryan —-

GRADE I WINNER KING OF GOSFORD RETURNS SATURDAY IN THE GRADE III AMERICAN STAKES FOR OLDER HORSES GOING ONE MILE ON TURF AT SANTA ANITA PARK

ARCADIA, CA (April 13, 2026)— Santa Anita Park returns to action Friday with the start of its springtime Hollywood Meet. On Saturday, Santa Anita has a 10-race program set led by the Grade III, $100,000 American Stakes for older horses at one mile on turf. Looming in the lineup is Grade I winner King of Gosford, who returns from a 7 ½-month layoff for top turf trainer Phil D’Amato.
King of Gosford hasn’t started since August when he finished last of six in the GII Del Mar Mile. Prior to that effort, King of Gosford at Santa Anita won the GI Shoemaker Mile in May and was a narrowly beaten second in the American in April. The 5-year-old horse by Zoustar, who raced in Europe as a 2-year-old, has an overall record of 18: 7-3-2 and $720,192 in earnings. He’s owned by Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Saul Gevertz, Michael Nentwig and Jeremy Peskoff. Jockey Emisael Jaramillo will ride King of Gosford for the first time.
D’Amato will also send out stakes winner Almendares, who is campaigned by McLean Racing Stables, CYBT, Nentwig, Gevertz and Ray Pagano. In his two most recent starts, Almendares finished third in both the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf in January at Gulfstream Park and the GII Frank E. Kilroe Mile on March 7 at Santa Anita. The 6-year-old gelding by Havana Grey, who also began his career in Europe, has an overall record of 22: 5-5-6 with $583,965 in earnings. He’ll be ridden by jockey Antonio Fresu.
Among those looking to upend the D’Amato-trained duo are Sumter and Genius Jimmy, who were separated by just a head last month in the GIII San Simeon sprinting on the hillside turf course.
Sumter prevailed in the San Simeon by a nose over eastern invader Quereme Pass with Genius Jimmy finishing just behind that pair. Trained by Richard Mandella, Sumter’s last time racing a mile on turf resulted in a win in the restricted Lure Stakes last October at Santa Anita. A 7-year-old gelding by War Front, Sumter is 32: 6-6-5 with $587,970 in earnings for owners-breeders Perry R. Bass II and Ramona Bass. Hall of Famer Mike Smith rode Sumter in the San Simeon and again has the call.

THE GRADE III AMERICAN STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS
IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 7 of 10 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Twirling Point—Ricky Gonzalez—122
Sumter—Mike Smith—122
King of Gosford—Emisael Jaramillo—124
Captain Choochies—Florent Geroux—120
Almendares—Antonio Fresu—122
Seal Team—Hector Berrios—124
Genius Jimmy—Juan Hernandez—120

First post Saturday is 1 p.m. PT.