Hollywood Gold Cup features British Isles, Subsanador

British Isles, winner of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap, and Grade 1 winner Subsanador headline the $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) on Monday at Santa Anita.

British Isles dominated the Santa Anita Handicap, also at 1 1/2 miles, when winning by 4 1/2 lengths 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 Ben Ali (G3) at 1 1/8 miles on April 18. British Isles will 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 California Crown (G1) going 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita. In his two comeback starts, Subsanador was fourth in both the San Carlos (G3) 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 1 winner, Subsandor the 7-year-old horse will be ridden by Mike Smith.

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 1/2-mile Temperance Hill at Oaklawn and finished third after setting the pace. 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.