The $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) at Santa Anita Park is the centerpiece of a strong Memorial Day holiday card that also includes the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) and $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1).
First run in 1938 across town at the now defunct Hollywood Park, now SoFi Stadium, the Hollywood Gold Cup was at one time a definitive stop for older handicap stars and for several years even carried a $1 million purse.
The fabled Seabiscuit emerged the winner of that first contest and since that summer day 88 years ago, the list of winners has become a “who’s who” of American racing. The list includes legendary names like Noor, Citation, Two Lea, Swaps, Round Table, Gallant Man, Native Diver, Ack Ack, Ancient Title, Affirmed, Ferdinand, Blushing John, Best Pal, Cigar, Skip Away, Real Quiet, Lava Man and Game on Dude.
Recent winners Accelerate and Vino Rosso would both go on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) as their final career races.
British Isles. Benoit Photo.Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has a record 10 victories in the Gold Cup, including four of the past six. He does not have a horse in Monday’s race five-horse field. The late Hall of Famer Charlie Whittingham saddled eight winners.
Laffit Pincay, Jr. booted home nine winners and remains the race’s leading rider.
In 1972, Quack set the world record of 1:58 1/5 for the 10-furlong distance when he won this race. While Spectacular Bid lowered the mark to 1:57 4/5 in 1980, Quack still owns the fastest time in Hollywood Gold Cup history over a dirt surface.
Compact but talented field
This year’s edition is a compact but competitive field of five, headlined by a Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner – British Isles (3-1) — and a Grade 1 veteran returning from a long layoff – Subsanador (2-1).
The Richard Baltas-trained British Isles dominated the Santa Anita Handicap over this track at 1 ¼ miles in March by 4 ½ lengths. He shipped to Keeneland for the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) and finished a disappointing sixth. He returns home to a track and distance where he’s proven. As a former turf horse who has taken well to dirt, this gelded son of Triple Crown winner Justify has high-level stakes experience and tactical speed. Expect him near the front or mid-pack under Joel Rosario. He’s the one to beat.
Argentine import Subsanador brings top credentials but question marks on current fitness. A Group 1 winner in Argentina and California Crown (G1) winner (1 ⅛ miles), he was sidelined for 18 months before returning with a pair of fourths this year in the San Carlos Stakes (G3) at 7 furlongs and the listed Lake Ouachita Stakes. The son of Fortify carries the credentials of two Hall of Famers in trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Mike Smith, a combination that is always dangerous, especially at this venue. He’s a 7-year-old veteran who should appreciate the distance and has shown he can compete at the highest level when right. Look for him to be forwardly placed or stalking. If he regains his best form, he contends for the win.
Forged Steel (4-1) ships in from Florida for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. seeking to earn a second consecutive Gold Cup success after Skippylongstocking’s score last year. This Vekoma colt exits a front-running allowance win at a mile at Oaklawn Park on May 2 and was a good third setting the pace in the 1 ½-mile Temperance Hill Stakes there. Eclipse winner Flavien Prat rides for the first time and as an improving type with tactical speed from the rail, he might have a shot to upset despite the step up in class against proven graded stakes horses. He could wire the field or sit close if the pace is moderate.
Reddam Racing’s Malarchuk (the 8-5 morning-line favorite) is a steady, improving sort for trainer Michael McCarthy. He returns home off a second in the Casa Ford Sunland Park Stakes and has been competitive in allowance/optional claiming company. He gets Juan Hernandez, a strong local rider, and McCarthy knows how to place these types. Expect a mid-pack or stalking trip, though he’s more of a consistent placer than a proven top-level threat. He could round out the exotics in this small field.
The 5-year-old Constitution horse Mc Vay adds an emotional angle as a horse who raced primarily for the late Hall of Fame inductee John Shirreffs, who passed away in February. Transferred to Peter Eurton, he won a front-running Santa Anita allowance at a mile on April 5 in promising fashion. He’s a local with speed and could apply early pressure. Jockey Hector Berrios knows him, but this is a big class hike against graded stakes winners. He figures as a longshot who could hang around if the pace melts down.
The picks: 1 British Isles 2 Subsanador 3 Forged Steel
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
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