As in many longer-distance turf races in North America, the $201,500 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) Sept. 26 at Santa Anita Park unfolded at a steady tempo early before becoming a sprint late, with Atitlan proving strongest in the final quarter-mile for a 2 1/4-length victory.
Atitlan and jockey Umberto Rispoli were unhurried in fifth through the opening 6 furlongs of the 1 1/4-mile race, as Balladeer led a rank Sinsel through an early splits of :22.58, :46.40, and 1:10.93, with the field well spaced in the early going. The pack set upon the pacesetters along the far turn. Flashiest, who had been tracking in third, was the first to pounce, easily taking a half-length lead from a fading Balladeer turning for home. But the lead was short-lived, as Atitlan, in the clear on the outside, was coming with a strong charge to the wire, quickly putting his head in front and then clearing Flashiest.
The final time was 1:58.35 on the firm downhill turf course.
Flashiest held second by half a length over Mondego.
This was the fourth graded stakes win for Atitlan, who won the 2024 Twilight Derby (G2T), 2025 San Luis Rey Stakes (G3T), and 2025 Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2T) while in the care of the late John Shirreffs. The trainer died earlier this year, and Atitlan was transferred to the barn of fellow California-based trainer Richard Mandella. This was his first win in three starts for the trainer, although he started to show his form with a runner-up effort in the Del Mar Handicap (G2T) last month—a few weeks after Shirreffs was posthumously inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame, joining Mandella and others.
"He's been a piece of cake," Mandella said in a postrace interview conducted by Santa Anita's broadcast team. "John Shirreffs did the groundwork and created the good horse, and I just got to polish the apple, that's all."
Atitlan is a 5-year-old horse by The Factor , out of the German-bred and -raced mare Armanda. The mare was purchased by Anastasie Christiansen-Croy from the Haras des Capucines consignment out of the 2012 Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale for US$46,534 and imported to Kentucky. Christiansen-Croy bred the Kentucky-born Atitlan, who now races for John M. B. O'Connor. The bay is a half brother to another multiple grade 2 stakes winner in Astronaut, who won the 2022 Red Smith Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack and the 2021 Del Mar Handicap (G2T) at Del Mar.
Atitlan is the first graded stakes winner this year, and one of 11 lifetime, for veteran sire The Factor, who stood this past season for $5,000 at Lane's End.
