Kentucky-bred Formidable Man returned from a nearly seven-month layoff and won the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita on May 25. Owned by William and Suzanne Warren and trained by Michael McCarthy, Formidable Man is now a three-time Grade 1 winner.
“He’s just a genuine racehorse,” McCarthy said. “I said earlier if he was ever going to be vulnerable it was going to be today with the layoff, but he’s just been touting himself here for the last couple of days. I’m glad we were able to get six works into him.”
Formidable Man was making his first start since finishing runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last year at Del Mar. Breaking from the inside post, Formidable Man settled in mid-pack along the rail in the Shoemaker Mile and saving ground as longshot Genius Jimmy and Call Me Cory battled on the lead.
On the second turn, Call Me Cory was overtaken for the lead by Mi Hermano Ramon as Formidable Man launched his bid. Mi Hermano Ramon led to the eighth pole when Formidable Man stormed passed him on the outside and won going away in a final time of 1:33.52.
“We had a very good trip, and it all worked out,” Prat said. “We were outside Mi Hermano Ramon, and he went on from there. They really did a good job in getting this horse back to the races. I looked at a lot of replays of his races, but I know the horse. I’ve ridden against him so many times. He’s just a straight-forward, very good horse.”
Three-Time Grade 1 Winner
Formidable Man is a 5-year-old horse by City of Light. He improved his record to 17-9-3-0 with more than $1.68 million in earnings. In 2024, Formidable Man won the Hollywood Derby (G1) at Del Mar and last year added a win in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile (G1) at Santa Anita. He was bred in Kentucky by Town and Country Horse Farms, and he was a graduate of the Keeneland September Sale in 2022.
“Everything just came to plan,” said McCarthy, who also won the 2021 Shoemaker Mile with Smooth Like Strait. “I can’t thank my guys enough for having this horse ready. And he takes care of us, this horse.”