City of Hope Mile Picks, Odds, Betting Preview, and Santa Anita Predictions (Sep 26)

Horse Racing

Credit: AI Generated

• When: Saturday, September 26, 2026 @ 5:00 PM ET
• Where: Santa Anita, California, USA
• How to Watch: FanDuel TV

A busy afternoon of graded stakes action at Santa Anita kicks off with the G2 City of Hope Mile Stakes this Saturday. Potential clues ahead of this year’s Breeders’ Cup will be on offer in California, and you can find our picks for all races at the track at the bottom of this page. Below, you can find the latest odds available at the best horse racing betting sites for the City of Hope Mile, and our picks.     

City of Hope Mile Stakes Odds

Latest odds taken from an Offshore Sportsbook. BetOnline markets open on the day of the race.

Race Information & Records

ALSO SEE: Presidents Cup Picks, Odds & Betting Preview (Sep 24-27)

City of Hope Mile Stakes: Recent Winners

• 2025– Johannes (Umberto Rispoli/Tim Yakteen)
• 2024– Johannes (Umberto Rispoli/Tim Yakteen)
• 2023– Hong Kong Harry (Juan Hernandez/Phillip D’Amato)
• 2022– Beyond Brilliant (Victor Espinoza/John Shirreffs)
• 2021– Mo Forza (Flavien Prat/Peter Miller)

City of Hope Mile Stakes: Betting Preview

The graded action at Santa Anita this weekend gets underway with the G2 City of Hope Mile Stakes. A small field of six runners will take their chance in California, with a purse of $300,000 up for grabs.

Teao (Paco Lopez/John Sadler) will make his first start in the U.S. this weekend after landing five straight Grade Ones in Chile. Hard to assess the strength of that form, but his win in the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano earlier this year was visually impressive. Could be anything, and worthy of respect for a top yard.

El Potente (Hector Berrios/Dan Blacker) has largely been consistent this season, winning one, and placing in the top three in three starts. His figures are reliable, and he has lost little in defeat when second in the G2 Frank E. Kilroe and third in the G2 Del Mar Mile on his last two efforts.

Cabo Spirit (Mike Smith/George Papaprodromou) makes his 45^th career start this weekend. Has looked to have regressed this year, failing to win in five starts. Has plenty to find on El Potente after finishing only fourth in the G2 Del Mar Mile last time and sixth in the G2 Frank E. Kilroe.

Detain (Juan Hernandez/Michael McCarthy) was ahead of two re-opposing rivals when second in the G2 Del Mar Mile on his last start. The four-year-old was previously trained in England by John & Thady Gosden, finishing a close third in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and third in the G2 Joel Stakes.

Irish Aces (Joel Rosario/Brendan Walsh) is winless in three starts this season, but has finished in the money on his last two starts when third in the G2 Edward Stakes and second in the G2 Connaught Cup. First start at Santa Anita poses questions.

Jockey Umberto Rispoli will be chasing a third straight win in the City of Hope Mile when he takes the ride on Phillip D’Amato-trained King Of Gosford. The five-year-old beat a couple of re-opposing rivals when landing the G2 Del Mar Mile last time, adding to the promise shown when winning the Wickerr Stakes. Goes well at Santa Anita, having won the G1 Shoemaker Mile and G2 Mathis Mile last season.

City of Hope Mile Stakes Picks

This looks like a straight battle between the first two home in the recent Del Mar Mile. However, Detain should be open to further progress on his second start for the McCarthy stable after being beaten by just a head by King Of Gosford last time. The 4lb swing at the weights will help him reverse that form, and it is the logical Exacta worth following.

Free Pick:

• Detain
• Exacta: Detain/King Of Gosford

Santa Anita Picks for September 26