A cool, calm, and collected Cabo Spirit entered the Santa Anita Park starting gate for the $101,000 American Stakes (G3T) April 20. When his competition decided to leave him alone on the lead, he made them pay late as he coasted to the wire in victory.
Kretz Racing's 6-year-old Pioneerof the Nile gelding has proven himself a threat in graded company when the race sets up in his favor. However, he had suffered five consecutive defeats after a breakout frontrunning triumph in the California Crown John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) last September.
Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith took over the reins in the George Papaprodromou trainee's most recent start in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) March 1. After setting the pace, he fought hard down the stretch before settling for third, beaten 3/4 lengths. Smith was encouraged by that performance and confident in returning at the same course and distance Easter Sunday.
"He actually ran a great race last time. I thought if I could just get that same effort out of him that he'd be tough," Smith told Santa Anita's Michelle Yu. "I might have gotten even more out of him today. He was really comfortable out there and I found the golden egg."
The race was won in the opening quarter mile when jockey Flavien Prat aboard odds-on favorite and grade 2 winner King of Gosford conceded the lead to Smith. Cabo Spirit posted opening fractions of :23.10, :47.31, and 1:11.05.
King of Gosford remained right on Cabo Spirit's hip throughout, but when the real running began in the stretch, he could not cut into the margin. Smith kept Cabo Spirit to task and crossed the wire a 3/4-length winner in 1:34.42, paying $15.20 to win.
"I asked him a little bit down the lane; I think it was more for me than him. I just wanted to make sure that they got their money's worth," Smith said. "If I left him alone, he probably would've just done the same thing. I just stayed a little busy on him just because he was out there by himself, and I know there were some closers in there. They were gonna come those last 100 yards to 50 yards—they always come with a big burst—so I just wanted to make sure I kept him focused."
That big burst from the closers never came. Endlessly, making his first start since July, was the only one to show signs of life during the stretch drive and closed from the back to finish third, 3 1/4 lengths behind.
The signs of Cabo Spirit's impending success were present early to Papaprodromou.
"He was nice and relaxed today, I liked the way he was acting in the paddock," the trainer told FanDuel TV. "There was not much speed out there, he got an easy, comfortable lead, that helped a lot. He's a nice horse, what can I say?"
The victory was a fourth at the graded level and sixth overall in 33 career starts, bumping Cabo Spirit's career earnings to $1,134,336. Bred in Kentucky by WinStar Farm, he is out of the winning Shamardal mare Fancy Day.
