Following their graded stakes wins on Saturday, both Cabo Spirit and Sorrento Sky are likely to move on to the Breeders' Cup in six weeks at Keeneland, and Atitlan is possible to compete, their respective trainers said Sunday morning.
Cabo Spirit, trained by George Papaprodromou, showed the way in Saturday's GII City of Hope Mile and gamely held off a late challenge from favorite El Potente to win by a head under Hall of Famer Mike Smith. As part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge series, the City of Hope Mile provided the winner a fees-paid berth to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on Oct. 31.
"He's doing well," Papaprodromou reported. "We'll see how things go here the next few days, but yes I think we'll go."
A popular 7-year-old gelding by Pioneerof the Nile, Cabo Spirit was making his 45th start in the City of Hope Mile. He collected his sixth graded stakes win and seventh stakes win overall. His first stakes win came on Jan. 2 of his 3-year-old year in 2022 when winning the Eddie Logan at Santa Anita. The City of Hope was Cabo Spirit's first stakes win since December when he took down the GIII San Gabriel going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita.
Cabo Spirit has made one previous appearance at the Breeders' Cup. In 2024, after winning the GII John Henry Turf Championship going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita, Cabo Spirit went on to finish 12th in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar.
Sorrento Sky, trained by Phil D'Amato, earned his second straight Grade II win Saturday when rallying from off the pace under Umberto Rispoli to win the Eddie D Stakes at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course. Previously, Sorrento Sky won last month's GII Green Flash going five furlongs on turf at Del Mar, which was a "Win and You're In" for the $2 million Turf Sprint on Oct. 31. Both wins have come since being gelded prior to the Del Mar meet, a move D'Amato noted has been a key to his recent success.
"He came out of the race in really good shape," D'Amato said. "We'll kind of weigh our options, but if he continues to do well, we'll try to get him to the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
Bred in Ireland, Sorrento Sky is a 5-year-old by Prince of Lir who made two starts in his native country as 2-year-old before being imported and sent to D'Amato. He has an overall record of 22: 6-4-6 with $542,918 in earnings.
Atitlan, trained by Richard Mandella, scored an authoritative 2 1/4-length victory under Rispoli in the GII John Henry Turf Championship. It was his first stakes win since May of 2025 when he prevailed in the GII Charles Whittingam, also going 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita, when trained by the late John Shirreffs.
Atitlan may now move on to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf, Mandella said.
"I thought it was a really good race. We're going to look at it," he said of the Turf.
A 5-year-old horse by War Front, Atitlan improved to 15: 5-1-4 with $648,000 in earnings for owner John M.B. O'Connor.
Pre-entries for this year's Breeders' Cup are due on Oct. 19.
Ack Ack Winner Bishops Bay Points to Dirt Mile
KAS Stables' Bishops Bay is headed to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (GI) following his determined victory in Saturday's $399,000 Ack Ack (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stables, announced the Breeders' Cup plans Saturday night on X.
"When we talk about true warriors, horses with a massive heart, the ones who leave everything on the track, who never quit, who keep fighting year after year and who do it with class, we have to talk about Bishops Bay," Lanz wrote. "Thank you for always giving your all. You make us proud every time you step on the track. ... Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile next."
Ten of the last 13 Ack Ack winners - Pants On Fire (2013), Tapiture (2015), Tom's Ready (2016), Awesome Slew (2017), Seeking the Soul (2018), Mr. Money (2020), Senor Buscador (2022), Zozos (2023), Three Technique (2024) and Tumbarumba (2025) - used the race as a springboard to the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (GI), which will be held this year at Keeneland around two turns on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Bishops Bay earned a 99 Brisnet Speed Rating for his head victory in the Ack Ack over Coal Battle.
Trained by Brad Cox, Bishops Bay has won 11 of 18 starts with earnings of $2,875,080.
Other notable Brisnet Speed Ratings on Saturday's card were a 105 from Dragoon Guard in the $498,000 Lukas Classic (GII), a 101 from Plutarch in the $300,000 Bourbon Flight and an 87 from Staunch in a 7 1/2-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-olds.
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