Grade 1 winner Johannes is nearing his first work of the year after spending more than two months on a Kentucky farm, trainer Tim Yakteen said May 11.
Johannes, who was an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding turf male of 2024, has been galloping daily at Santa Anita Park for the past several weeks. He was sent to Kentucky in January after he emerged from a win in the Dec. 26 San Gabriel Stakes (G2T) at Santa Anita with mild bone bruising.
"He's coming back great," Yakteen said. "We sent him out and gave him a little bit of 'r and r.' He's been galloping and you'll likely see him on the work tab towards the end of the month."
The win in the San Gabriel capped a sparkling season for Johannes, a now 5-year-old horse by Nyquist . Johannes last year won 5-of-6 starts, all graded stakes, including the Shoemaker Mile (G1T). His lone defeat was a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) in November at Del Mar.
Johannes could make his return at Del Mar this summer, though Yakteen noted, "We don't have our eye on any ball yet."
"Whenever he's ready, he's ready. He'll tell us," Yakteen added.
Owned and bred by Cuyathy, Johannes has an overall record of 8-1-1 from 13 starts with $1,153,859 in earnings. As a 3-year-old, Johannes won two stakes, both at Santa Anita. Last year, in addition to the Shoemaker Mile and San Gabriel, Johannes won the American Stakes (G3T) and City of Hope Mile (G2T), both at Santa Anita, and the Eddie Read Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar.
"It's exciting to have him back," Yakteen said.
