How to bet the Shoemaker Mile Stakes

An excellent cast of nine, six of which are graded stakes winners, will travel one mile over the Santa Anita lawn in Saturday’s $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1). A fair case can be made for nearly every runner in this challenging handicapping puzzle, but I’ll give the edge to the contenders drawn inside in the field. 

Shoemaker Mile Wagers

• $20 win #1 El Potente ($20)
• $4 exacta key box 1 with 2,3 ($16)
• $1 trifecta box 1,2,3 ($6)

#1 El Potente loves the surface with six wins from 10 lifetime runs at Santa Anita, and the son of Temple City also thrives at the trip, evidenced by his 7-4-2-1 line at eight panels in total. The Dan Blacker trainee showed a new dimension last time when he rallied from off the pace to be a clear second in the Kilroe Mile (G2) on March 7, and the versatile seven-year-old has posted seven morning drills in order to be fully fit for this heat. I expect Hector Berrios to have him tracking the pace in second before taking the lead in the early stretch. 

Two-time Grade 1 winner #2 Formidable Man will make his first appearance since checking in a strong second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) in November. Trained by Michael McCarthy, who has two contenders in the field, the son of City of Light can fire off of works and was a closing fourth in the race last year when sent postward as the favorite. The five-year-old is surely a specialist at Del Mar, but he is also a Grade 1 victor at one mile on this lawn, as well, and his best run will make him ‘formidable’ inside the final furlong. Flavien Prat picks up the mount.   

#3 King of Gosford, one of two signed on for Phil D’Amato, rallied to take this race last season in his second run off the layoff, and he will attempt to retain his crown in his second appearance of 2026 in this spot. The Zoustar chestnut sports a sharp 8-5-1-1 lifetime mark on the local lawn and has a decent prep for the event when fourth in the American (G3) at this locale on April 18. The chestnut is pretty handy with good tactical speed and a quick turn of foot, and I like his chances of being close in the final stages of the heat with Kimura taking the reins.