City of Hope Mile: King of Gosford Leads Elite Field in Breeders’ Cup Mile Qualifier

The $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2) is a prestigious 1-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, serving as a key “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland on October 31.

Originally inaugurated in 1986 as the Colonel F. W. Koester Handicap and later known as the Oak Tree Mile, the race adopted its current name in 2013 to honor the nearby Duarte Cancer Center.

History of Winners

Palace Music, legendary sire of Hall of Famer Cigar, won the inaugural running while setting a course record. Other notable winners include Silic (1999), War Chant (2000), and Val Royal (2001), all of whom used this race as a springboard to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Mo Forza captured back-to-back renewals in 2020 and 2021, a feat Johannes replicated in 2024 and 2025. Hall of Famer Neil Drysdale trained a record six winners, while Gary Stevens rode four.

City of Hope Mile Preview: Top Four from Del Mar Mile Meet Again

This year’s six-horse field features a highly anticipated rematch of last month’s Del Mar Mile (G2), where the top four finishers crossed the line within a half-length of each other.

King of Gosford (8-5), the winner of the Del Mar Mile, is a 5-year-old Zoustar stallion who also captured the 2025 Shoemaker Mile (G1) on this turf course. After winning the restricted Wickerr Stakes at Del Mar in July, his most recent victory pushed him into millionaire status.

Highly tactical, King of Gosford can sit just off the pace or stalk the leaders, boasting a powerful late kick. While drawing the widest post is a slight concern on Santa Anita’s tight turf turns, he remains the most accomplished miler in the field and the one to beat. Phil D’Amato trains the contender, with Umberto Rispoli in the irons.

Michael McCarthy sends out Detain (8-1), an Ireland-bred runner owned by Juddmonte, who finished a close second by a head in the Del Mar Mile following a strong late surge. The 4-year-old, typically a closer or mid-pack stalker who excels down the lane, is the youngest in the field and looks to improve on his record of one win, a second, and a third in three North American starts. Juan Hernandez rides.

Chile-bred Teao (6-1) will break from the rail under Paco Lopez for trainer John Sadler. The 4-year-old gray colt by Ya Primo is a multiple Chilean Group 1 winner who also captured a Group 2 race at this 1-mile distance. The Don Alberto homebred is set to make his North American debut after winning the Gran Premio Latinoamericano last April, but he has posted impressive Southern California workouts since mid-August. As an unknown quantity, he represents a potential wildcard, though South American imports have a history of making an immediate impact in the northern hemisphere.

Dan Blacker trains El Potente (9-5), a consistent 7-year-old California turf miler who went off as the favorite in the Del Mar Mile before finishing third, a neck behind Detain and a half-length behind King of Gosford. Capable of racing up front or stalking the pace, he always leaves enough in the tank for a strong finish. His tactical speed allows him to either stalk or take the lead, with Hector Barrios in the saddle.

Cabo Spirit (6-1) finished fourth in the Del Mar Mile, finishing just a half-length behind the winner. The 7-year-old, who placed second to Johannes in the 2025 City of Hope Mile, looks to improve on that result this year. A confirmed front-runner or presser, he often dictates the pace or sits just off it. Jockey Mike Smith knows him extremely well and is expected to attempt to control the fractions from his mid-field post.

Irish Aces (6-1) ships in from the East for trainer Brendan Walsh. The 6-year-old Mshawish gelding was second in the Connaught Cup (G2) at Woodbine in July before finishing third in the King Edward Stakes (G2) five weeks ago. He brings solid graded stakes placing form on turf at a mile and slightly longer, making him a contender here. Typically sitting off the pace and finishing strongly, he doesn’t win often, and this class hike may be a stretch, but he has the credentials to compete. With Joel Rosario aboard, he is a plus, but will require a clean trip from his preferred mid-pack position to factor in the finish.

Post time for the City of Hope Mile, scheduled as Race 3, is 5:06 p.m. ET.

The Picks: King of Gosford, Detain, and Teao

The Field for the $200,000 City of Hope Mile (G2), from the rail out:

Last Updated on 09/23/2026

The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.

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