Memorial Day Monday at Santa Anita features a trio of important stakes, including the Grade 1 Gamely, Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile and the Grade 2 Hollywood Gold Cup. The tradition-rich Gold Cup began in 1938 when won by Seabiscuit, and over the years boasted winners like Native Diver, Affirmed, Cigar, Skip Away and Lava Man. The Hollywood Park fixture moved to Santa Anita in 2014.
Let’s meet the contenders for the 1-1/4 Hollywood Gold Cup (Race 8):
#1-TARANTINO: Had streak of 4 straight graded-stakes placings halted April 19 when off the board in the Oaklawn Handicap. Peter Eurton claimed this one for $40,000 in July and has gone 7: 2-3-1 with him since. Juan Hernandez piloted 2023 Gold Cup winner Defunded.
#2-PACKS A WAHLOP: Since starting his career 3-for-4 in 2022, this gelding by Creative Cause has lost 16 straight. That streak nearly ended May 3 in the Charlie Whittingham when a narrow runner-up on the turf, a surface that’s been his home in 16 of 20 starts. Trainer John Sadler won this race in 2015 (Hard Aces) and 2018 (Accelerate).
#3-MIDNIGHT MAMMOTH: Del Mar’s Cougar II winner over 1-1/2 miles got back to the winner’s circle most recently April 26 at Santa Anita in allowance company. He finished fourth in the Santa Anita Handicap this spring over the track and distance against a considerably tougher cast. Trainer Craig Dollase secured the 2010 Hollywood Gold Cup with Awesome Gem.
#4-EXTENSIVE: Rides a 2-race winning streak into his stakes debut. Trainer Michael McCarthy looks to build off last week’s Preakness victory by Journalism. McCarthy won this race in 2022 with There Goes Harvard. Flavien Prat scored here with Country Grammer in 2021. Lone 4-year-old in the lineup and notably that age bracket has won 5 of the last 6 Hollywood Gold Cups. Son of City of Light makes his first bid beyond 1-1/16 miles on Monday.
#5-SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING: $3.5 million earner should be a solid favorite in his return to Santa Anita from his Florida base. Third here in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile of 2023 in his only prior local spin. Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee won Tampa’s Challenger for the third straight year in March, sandwiched between solid third-place efforts in the Pegasus World Cup and Oaklawn Handicap. Irad Ortiz Jr. piloted 2022 Gold Cup winner There Goes Harvard.
#6-IL BELATOR: Fourth in the 2023 Shoemaker Mile, he’ll bypass that return date on this same card in favor of the Gold Cup. Synthetic specialist has won once on dirt, a March 28 Santa Anita allowance, before finishing off the board in the American at a turf mile. Jose Bautista trains the colt by Preakness winner Shackleford, while Geovanni Franco rides.
#7-ARROWTHEGREAT: Runner-up April 26 in a Santa Anita allowance to Gold Cup rival Midnight Mammoth. Sixth of 7 in last year’s Gold Cup at 28-1 odds and will be a longshot once again. Dan Blacker trains the Arrogate gelding who is 3: 0-0-0 in stakes attempts. Tiago Pereira has the mount.
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