The Gold Cup – GII
$200.000 – For Three Year Olds And Upward
1 1/4 Miles – Dirt
Santa Anita Park – May 25, 2026

How do you run “The Gold Cup” on Memorial Day with a straight face? A proper memorial would be to maintain the name Hollywood Gold Cup which we all know is what this race was called in its glory days both in the real world as well as in HRP. Hollywood Park…one of racing’s greatly missed ghosts especially on the CA landscape. This race used to be run as a GI with a $750.000 purse. It fell to G2 status last year and will maintain last year’s purse level of $200.000. Not what it was but still nothing to sneeze at and a prize anyone would like to add to the resume of both horse and barn. As such, eight contenders have answered the siren call of the Gold Cup starting gate for this year’s contest.

1. Fried Chicken (Angelos Stable/V. Del-Cid) Was second in the G3 Ali at Keeneland falling just three parts of a length short of Charlie Jace who he will meet again here. He gets a little bit of extra ground to close into today. In their last meeting Charlie Jace drew the rail and used that position to go wire to wire. The rail draw goes to Fried Chicken this time. Turned in one of the fastest mile works of the year last weekend so the six year old appears ready to turn in a top effort.

2. Heart Of Genghis (Night Rider Stables/S. Elliott) Throw out his last race on a wet track at Oaklawn Park and he is coming off of a March win in the G3 Challenger Stakes. He also won the G2 Woodward last season so he can win the big races on his best days. Also showing a very fast last work. 

3. Shoot For The Head (Twin TowersRacing/M. Franco) Claimed for $32.000 a month ago and makes his stakes debut in his first start for his new barn. The barn is obviously hot having taken the Derby and Preakness in recent weeks, but this looks like a longshot for a horse that has only made six starts and has not faced anything near this level of competition. The trainer must see something not jumping out of the form at the moment. 

4. Skeptic (Pablo Racing Inc/R. Bejarano) Won the G3 Autumn Stakes last November earning a 101 SRF speed figure. His two races this season have not been near that level. He ditches the Lasix he experimented with in his last race and also cuts back from that mile and a half distance hoping to find the form from his signature victory. 

5. Charlie Jace (Mb Stables/A. Fresu) Winner of almost $1.800.000 in his nineteen race career that has seen him cross the wire first six times including graded stakes wins in each of the last three seasons. His last race was a wire to wire win in the G3 Ali where he took advantage of a rail draw. Has to be viewed as the one to beat.

6. Cherokee Revolution (Royalty Stables/P. Lopez) Seeks to parlay a win in a NW4 at Churchill Downs into a two race winning streak and add a graded stakes win to his statebred stakes win as a two year old. Missed winning the G3 Fool Handicap by a nose which was a sprint but his last race win was at nine furlongs which should encourage his backers that he may be able to navigate the Gold Cup’s ten furlongs. 

7. Quiet Return (John Henry/J.R. Velasquez) Kentucky Derby winner has amassed over $7.400.000 in earnings but has not hit the board in four starts since winning the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup last August at Saratoga. His best finish in three starts as a six year old was seventh in the G3 GP Mile so he is searching for his old form. His works show he still has some pep in his step but is it enough to still be the big dog at this level? I have a soft spot for this horse as he helped me win the Pick ‘em the day he won the Derby. Would love to see him wake up here. 

8. Candy Fear Party (Martyparty/S.X. Bridgmohan) Very consistent and good four year old who has hit the board thirteen times in nineteen races. Is a statebred stakes winner as a two year old and has hit the board in a couple of graded stakes restricted to three year olds last year so he has talent. Has to step up to make his presence felt in this field but no question he can handle the distance and that could help him surprise.

Charlie Jace beat Fried Chicken in their last meeting but I am looking for the reversal of post positions and the extra distance to help Fried Chicken turn the tables in the Gold Cup. Put Fried Chicken on top of Charlie Jace for the exacta with Heart Of Genghis and Quiet Return third and fourth. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES