The best racing on Memorial Day is taking place at Santa Anita Park. Three graded stakes are on the agenda, including a couple of Grade 1 prizes.
The Grade 1s have drawn quality fields, but I'll focus my attention on the first of the day's graded stakes, the $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2). While the race has lost some luster in recent years, I'm fascinated by the five-horse field slated to contest the 2026 edition of the historic 1 1/4-mile contest.
The most accomplished entrant is #3 Subsanador. The Argentinean-bred enjoyed strong success in his home country, winning a trio of Group 1 races. He's also competed with aplomb in the United States; in 2024, he won the 1 1/8-mile California Crown (G1) and ran second by a head in the 1 1/4-mile Santa Anita H. (G1).
But Subsanador missed the 2024 Breeders' Cup with an ankle injury, and he didn't race at all in 2025. Since returning to action this year, he's run below his best, finishing fourth by eight lengths in both the seven-furlong San Carlos (G3) and the 1 1/16-mile Lake Ouachita S. As a result, he appears vulnerable in the Hollywood Gold Cup.
#5 British Isles, the other Grade 1 winner in the field, is likewise tricky to trust. Two starts back, British Isles proved easily best in the Santa Anita H. (G1) over the same track and distance as the Hollywood Gold Cup, drawing off to defeat next-out Sunland Park S. winner Vodka Vodka by 4 1/2 lengths.
But the Santa Anita H. was a slow race, both on paper and by historical standards. The final quarter-mile elapsed in :28.45, and British Isles hit the wire in 2:05.17, the slowest winning time since 1975. British Isles subsequently finished a distant sixth in the 1 3/16-mile Ben Ali (G3) at Keeneland, so his form didn't hold up when traveling across the country.
Of course, British Isles isn't a one-hit wonder; last November, he finished a close second to Grade 1 winner Nevada Beach in the 1 1/8-mile Native Diver (G3). But I don't think he's a lock to win the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Instead, I'm going to favor two horses competing in California for the first time: #1 Forged Steel and #4 Malarchuk.
Forged Steel has spent much of his career racing on turf, but his dirt form this year is solid. On Feb. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs, he pressed the pace in a one-mile and 40-yard $32,000 allowance optional claimer before taking over to trounce a next-out winner by 6 1/2 lengths.
On March 28, Forged Steel stepped up in class and distance for the 1 1/2-mile Temperence Hill S. at Oaklawn Park. After setting a slow pace, he fought on to finish third, beaten only two lengths by four-time stakes winner Parchment Party, one of the best long-distance runners in North America.
On May 2, Forged Steel tackled a one-mile $62,500 allowance optional claimer at Oaklawn. This time, he led all the way and turned back a challenge to triumph by one length.
Forged Steel is steadily improving his Beyer speed figures and Brisnet Speed ratings. He hails from the hot barn of Saffie Joseph Jr., who won last year's Hollywood Gold Cup with Skippylongstocking. And Forged Steel is slated to be ridden by two-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Flavien Prat, who has won with 29% of his mounts at Santa Anita since 2025.
Clearly, there's a lot to like about Forged Steel. But the credentials of Malarchuk are even more compelling.
Malarchuk was in hot form at Saratoga last year. On June 6, he crossed the finish line second by three-quarters of a length in a 1 1/8-mile $50,000 allowance optional claimer, but was awarded the win via disqualification. Then on July 12, he rated behind the early leaders in a 1 1/8-mile $75,000 allowance optional claimer before taking over to triumph by 1 1/2 lengths.
Those efforts yielded strong Beyers of 101 and 102 plus excellent Brisnet Speed ratings of 106 and 102. And while Malarchuk did regress in the April 5 Sunland Park S. racing 1 1/8 miles at Sunland Park, finishing second by 2 1/4 lengths, he was returning from a long layoff and making his first start for trainer Michael McCarthy.
Malarchuk has posted sharp workouts since the Sunland Park S., including a swift five furlongs in :59 3/5 at Santa Anita. I'm optimistic he'll move forward in his second start of the season. As a son of Nyquist out of a mare by Tiznow, he has the pedigree to handle 1 1/4 miles, and take note, he's picking up hot jockey Juan Hernandez, a 23% winner at Santa Anita this year.
If recent Santa Anita $50,000 allowance optional claiming winner #2 Mc Vay keeps Forged Steel occupied up front, then Malarchuk can stalk the pace in third place before pouncing to victory in the homestretch. He's my top choice to win the Hollywood Gold Cup.
Selections
1st: Malarchuk
2nd: Forged Steel
3rd: British Isles
Now it's your turn! Who do you like in the Hollywood Gold Cup?
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