(British Isles at Santa Anita / Benoit Photo & Courtesy of Santa Anita)

From the Santa Anita Media Team:

BIG CAP HERO BRITISH ISLES, GRADE I WINNER SUBSANADOR LEAD THE GRADE II HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP GOING 1 ¼ MILES ON MONDAY AT SANTA ANITA

ARCADIA, CA (May 19, 2026)—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.

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 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.

THE GRADE II HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 5 of 10 Approximate post time 3 p.m. PT

  1. Forged Steel—Flavien Prat—122

  2. McVay—Hector Berrios—122

  3. Subsanador—Mike Smith—122

  4. Malarchuk—Juan Hernandez—122

  5. British Isles—Joel Rosario—126

First post Monday is 1 p.m. PT.