Johannes, a finalist for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding turf horse of 2024, has been sidelined with a minor injury, trainer Tim Yakteen said on Friday. “We’ve run into some bone bruising,” Yakteen said. “We’ve always put the horse first, as we do all our horses. “We’ll give him a little bit of a break and set him up for his summer campaign.” Yakteen said he received the diagnosis from veterinarians on Friday. The setback ends plans to take Johannes to Gulfstream Park for the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 25. Owned by Joe and Debby McCloskey, Johannes, a 5-year-old, has won eight of 13 starts and earned $1,153,859. Last year, Johannes won five of six starts, with the only loss a close second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2. The other five wins were in graded stakes on turf at distances ranging from a mile to 1 1/8 miles, including the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 26. Johannes made his 2024 debut in the Grade 3 American Stakes at Santa Anita in April. :: Santa Anita Clocker Reports are available every race day. Access now. A summertime comeback this year would likely lead to a return during the Del Mar meeting, which begins in July. “Last year, we brought him back in April,” Yakteen said. “This year, you’ll probably see August or September. You’ll see a shift in the races we’ll target.” The long-range goal is the BC Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 1. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.