The Shoemaker Mile Stakes is a highlight of Santa Anita Park’s spring-summer meet and the anchor of what is annually an appealing Memorial Day racecard. The Grade 1 turf event is named after Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker and was formerly held at Hollywood Park before that track closed in 2012.

This year’s renewal has attracted a solid field of middle-distance turf specialists but not the best in the West, last year’s Shoemaker winner and FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF runner-up Johannes. That turf star recently had his first workout since recovering from bone bruising and could return to racing later in the summer at Del Mar.

1. Seal Team: Will be making his second start of the year after a solid debut when second in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes, in which he broke through the starting gate before the race went off and had to be reloaded. Only raced three times in 2024 without a win but was competitive at the stakes level against several runners he’ll face in the Shoemaker Mile. Should be running late through the stretch.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Richard Mandella

2. Atitlan: Comes into the race off of two graded stakes wins at Santa Anita, one at 1 ½ miles and the other at 1 ¼ miles. Gets a new jockey in Antonio Fresu and, although he fits in terms of class, he’ll have to handle cutting back in distance while competing against several local runners who are one-mile specialists.

JOCKEY: Antonio Fresu; TRAINER: John Shirreffs

3. Seminole Chief: The wild card in this race as he ships across the country from Gulfstream Park, where he won his last two starts, including a one-mile listed stakes. Should take to Santa Anita’s firm turf but making the class jump to face some of California’s best is a question mark. Take note: top turf rider Irad Ortiz Jr. also makes the trip and will ride this colt for the first time in the Shoemaker Mile.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Jack Sisterson

4. King of Gosford: Has been in very good form since last October, winning twice and finishing second twice by close margins, all in California stakes races. Could not catch Cabo Spirit in his most recent race, the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita, but is eligible to improve in his second 2025 start and ace jockey Flavien Prat stays aboard.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Phil D’Amato

5. Formidable Man: Has been accumulating stakes wins in California since last summer, including his half-length win against several of these foes in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes March 1 at Santa Anita. He finished last of 12 in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes back in January when shipping to Florida, but is back in friendly confines and a top win candidate.

King of Gosford (BENOIT photo)

JOCKEY: Umberto Rispoli; TRAINER: Michael McCarthy

6. Zio Jo: Moved up to test stakes company last fall after competing at the allowance level and hasn’t embarrassed himself in four starts. He nearly upset Formidable Man in the Kilroe Mile back in March, losing by a half-length at 23.20-1 odds, and then finished fourth of seven in the American Stakes after he was forced to check early. Can pick up a minor award in a best-case scenario.

JOCKEY: Kyle Frey; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

7. Mi Hermano Ramon: Has four wins in 12 career starts but has not run a bad race once, finishing no worse than fifth. Often finds traffic trouble during races which has kept him from scoring that breakthrough Grade 1 win. Ran very well when fourth in the Pegasus World Cup Turf in Florida two starts back (Formidable Man also shipped and was last), but then checked in fifth, 1 ¼ lengths behind that foe in the Kilroe Mile.

JOCKEY: Hector Berrios; TRAINER: Mark Glatt

8. Cabo Spirit: Does his best running when forwardly placed and used that strategy to win the American Stakes last time out over King of Gosford. Nearly pulled off a 31.40-1 upset in the Kilroe Mile before that, setting the early pace and losing by only three-quarters of a length when third behind Formidable Man and Zio Jo. Mike Smith was aboard in those starts and will ride Goliad in the Shoemaker, but Frankie Dettori should pick up the baton and run.

JOCKEY: Frankie Dettori; TRAINER: George Papaprodromou

9. Goliad: Turf mile specialist knows only one way to win – get out front and lead from start to finish. He could have trouble doing that with fellow speedster Cabo Sprit drawn right to his inside. Will be making his first start since finishing ninth of 10 in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Presented by PDJF last November, when he set the early pace and then dropped anchor. “Big Money” Mike Smith takes the mount and should have him sizzling early.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Richard Mandella

THE PICK: King of Gosford

LIVE LONGSHOT: Seal Team

SUPERFECTA: 4-5-7-1