Stakes Tracker: Gold Cup at Santa Anita field takes shape
With all the excitement over the Triple Crown series, some other important graded stakes have been overlooked in recent weeks.
For instance, this Saturday Santa Anita offers the Grade 1 Gold Cup, its version of the discontinued Hollywood Gold Cup from the past. Also at Santa Anita, one week later the same track will showcase older fillies and mares in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile.
Another top Grade 1 race for older horses looms June 16 at Churchill Downs, which will host its Grade 1 Stephen Foster the weekend after the Belmont Stakes.
Fields for each are taking shape.
The Californian Stakes (G2), the local prep for the Gold Cup, produced a new star in Dr. Dorr. The 5-year-old gelding trained by Bob Baffert earned a stunning 108 Beyer Speed Figure for his win.
Dr. Dorr will not get an easy race this time, as Pavel from the Doug O’Neill barn is listed as a “probable” to run. His most recent start came in the Dubai World Cup (G1), where he finished fourth. If Pavel does not show up in the Gold Cup, he will contest the Shoemaker Mile (G1) on grass two days later.
In addition, Oaklawn Handicap (G2) winner City of Light is possible for the race, as trainer Michael McCarthy indicated “everything is in play” for him, including the Met Mile (G1) on the Belmont Stakes undercard. Runner-up Accelerate, who put up a good fight against City of Light, is a likely starter.
Californian runner-up Prince of Arabia, and possibly Full of Luck, will join them.
Fan favorite Unique Bella is working toward the race for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. He mentioned that the 4-year-old Tapit filly will breeze one more time this weekend and be ready to run.
Unique Bella will be reunited with an old rival in Paradise Woods, who has not started since a disappointing fourth-place finish in the Santa Monica Stakes (G2).
Last December, the two fillies dueled in an exciting stretch run in the La Brea Stakes (G1), where Unique Bella caught a stubborn Paradise Woods late.
The Beholder Mile will also feature Fault, who is on an amazing three-race win streak for trainer Philip D’Amato. Most recently, she took the Adoration Stakes (G3) a few weeks ago over notable names as Vale Dori and Mended. Previously, she won the Santa Margarita Stakes (G1) and Buena Vista Stakes (G2) on turf.
Selcourt, who won the Santa Monica, is unfortunately out of the race.
The Stephen Foster Handicap will feature Lookin at Lee, who found new life in his career when showing speed en route to an optional claiming win on the Derby undercard. He previously lost 14 straight races for trainer Steve Asmussen, although one of those defeats was a runner-up finish in the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
He may encounter one of the top world-ranked horses in West Coast, who finished runner-up in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) and Dubai World Cup (G1). The 4-year-old Flatter colt won the Travers Stakes (G1) and Pennsylvania Derby (G1) last year.
Right now, the Baffert-trained runner is listed only as “possible” for the race. Baffert said last week West Coast is stabled at Churchill Downs and “just walking” for now.
If not West Coast, then Irish War Cry might add some extra star power. The son of Curlin returned to his front-running style while capturing the Pimlico Special (G3) last weekend over One Liner and Untrapped. He last year won the the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2) before finishing 10th in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Belmont Stakes.
The trio could be joined by local charges Honorable Duty, Thirstforlife and Hawaakom.