British Isles, winner of the GI Santa Anita Handicap, and Grade I winner Subsanador headline the Grade II, $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on Monday at Santa Anita. Joining the Hollywood Gold Cup on a special 10-race Memorial Day program at The Great Race Place is the Grade I Shoemaker Mile and Grade I Gamely Stakes.
British Isles dominated the Santa Anita Handicap, also at 1 ¼ miles, when winning by 4 ½ lengths on March 7. It was the first stakes win for the 5-year-old gelding by Justify. Trained by Richard Baltas, British Isles subsequently shipped to Keeneland and finished off the board in the GIII Ben Ali at 1 1/8 miles on April 18. British Isles is owned by Slam Dunk Racing, Deborah A. Baltas and Cynthia McClanahan. He’ll be ridden by Joel Rosario for the first time in the Gold Cup.
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Subsanador, trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, will be making his third start after being sidelined for 18 months. Prior to the layoff, Subsanador most notably won the GI California Crown going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita. In his two comeback starts, Subsanador was fourth in both the GIII San Carlos going seven furlongs in March at Santa Anita and the Lake Ouachita going 1 1/16 miles on May 2 at Oaklawn Park. Bred in Argentina, where he was a Group I winner, Subsandor is a 7-year-old horse owned by Wathnan Racing. He’ll be ridden by Mike Smith.
Forged Steel Invades from Florida
Forged Steel ships in from Florida seeking a first stakes win for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Last year, Joseph won the Gold Cup with Florida shipper Skippylongstocking. Forged Steel, a 4-year-old colt by Vekoma, exits a front-running allowance win going one mile at Oaklawn Park on May 2. Previously, he tested the 1 ½-mile Temperance Hill at Oaklawn and finished third after setting the pace. Forged Steel is owned by C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable. Jockey Flavien Prat rides Forged Steel for the first time.
Mc Vay exits a promising front-running allowance win going one mile at Santa Anita on April 5. A 5-year-old horse by Constitution, Mc Vay made his first 11 starts for trainer John Shirreffs before Shirreffs died unexpectedly in February at the age of 80. Mc Vay was subsequently transferred to trainer Peter Eurton by owner C R K Stable. Jockey Hector Berrios was aboard for the recent allowance and again has the call.
G1 Gamely Draws Eight
Thought Process, who returned from a six-month layoff in top form when winning the GII Buena Vista in February, GIII Royal Heroine winner Take A Breath and eastern invader Hang the Moon are among a field of eight fillies and mares set go in the Grade I, $300,000 Gamely Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8-miles on turf Monday at Santa Anita. Joining the Gamely on a special 10-race Memorial Day program at The Great Race Place is the Grade I Shoemaker Mile and Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup.
Thought Process, a 4-year-old filly by Collected, earned a career-best and field-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure when taking the one-mile Buena Vista by two lengths on Feb. 28 at Santa Anita. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Thought Process last year won the GII San Clemente at Del Mar and as a 2-year-old took down both the GIII Surfer Girl at Santa Anita and Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf. She sports a record of 9: 6-0-2 with $500,280 in earnings for owners Estate of Brereton C. Jones, Little Red Feather Racing and Madaket Stables. Thought Process will be ridden by Hector Berrios, who was also aboard in the Buena Vista.
Take A Breath prevailed in the one-mile Royal Heroine on April 25 by a half-length over May Day Ready, who also returns in the Gamely. Trained by Mark Glatt, Take A Breath six weeks earlier also prevailed the GIII Santa Ana at 1 ¼ miles on turf at Santa Anita. Bred in England, where she began her career, Take A Breath is a 4-year-old filly by Bated Breath owned by Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners and Chivalry Racing Thoroughbred. Regular rider Emisael Jaramillo has the call on Take A Breath.
