Mandella Seeks Third Gold Cup With South American-Bred

If Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella wins his third Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) May 31, he will have accomplished each one with a South American-bred runner. Mandella is sending Brazilian-bred Royal Ship  into the $300,000 race, which has attracted a field of seven. At 1 1/4 miles on the dirt at Santa Anita, the Gold Cup goes as the eighth race on a nine-race card and is slated for 4:51 p.m. PT.

When the Gold Cup was conducted at the now-defunct Hollywood Park, Mandella took back-to-back editions in 1996-97 with Brazilian-bred Siphon and Argentine-bred Gentlemen. Both had previously shown talent on the grass.

Royal Ship raced almost exclusively on the turf in his native country, winning five consecutive races, including the 2020 Estado do Rio de Janeiro (G1). Mandella has started Royal Ship five times in this country, all in graded events, with three on the turf and two on the dirt. In his last start, Royal Ship won the April 17 Californian Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles on the dirt.

The Californian marked Royal Ship's first U.S. victory, primarily because he had previously encountered traffic.

"He's been in trouble ever since we've gotten him," said Mandella after the Californian.

Royal Ship fought a gritty stretch battle in the Californian with Country Grammer , who returns in the Gold Cup, and prevailed by a neck. Mandella could have entered Royal Ship in the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1T), a turf race that runs 30 minutes before the Gold Cup, but the trainer said that off the Californian performance, "I'm inclined to think about dirt."

 “He’s coming into the race great,” said Mandella. “I hope he runs as good or better (than he did in the Californian) this time.”

Mike Smith has been aboard Royal Ship in all of his U.S. starts and returns for the Gold Cup. Royal Ship, a 5-year-old son of Midshipman  —Bela Val, by Val Royal, owned by Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm, will break from the rail.

Country Grammer, now trained by seven-time Gold Cup winner Bob Baffert for WinStar Farm, began his career in New York under the tutelage of Chad Brown when owned by Paul Pompa Jr. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Tonalist   debuted on the turf, but his two victories, including the 2020 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course, have come on dirt. The Californian is Country Grammer's only start thus far for Baffert.

Racing from post 2, Country Grammer will have the services of leading Santa Anita jockey Flavien Prat.

Idol , who won this year's Santa Anita Handicap (G1) March 6, will miss the Gold Cup, but Express Train , second in that race, is scheduled to compete. Juan Hernandez will ride Express Train from post 7.

A $500,000 Keeneland September yearling, Express Train is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Union Rags  . John Shirreffs trains him for Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable. In 10 starts, Express Train has won three times, including the Jan. 30 San Pasqual Stakes (G2), with four seconds, one third, and one fourth. The only time Express Train finished worse than fourth was in his lone race on turf after a troubled trip.

Michael McCarthy, trainer of Preakness Stakes (G1) winner and Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) hopeful Rombauer , has entered 4-year-old Rushie  and 6-year-old Brown Storm .

A Florida-bred son of Liam's Map   owned by Jim and Donna Daniell, Rushie won the 2020 Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG and E and KU (G2) at Churchill Downs and in his only 2021 start finished second beaten a nose in the April 10 Oaklawn Mile Stakes. In between those two efforts he ran seventh at 29-1 in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Trevor McCarthy rides in the Gold Cup from post 5.

Brown Storm, a homebred for Haras Matriarca and a multiple group winner in his native Chile, has not won in seven U.S. starts. A son of Scat Daddy, Brown Storm set the early pace in last year's Gold Cup, running fourth. He drew post 3 and will have Umberto Rispoli up.

Heywoods Beach , with Tyler Baze the pilot from post 4, comes from the barn of John Sadler, a two-time Gold Cup winner. Hronis Racing owns the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown  . Heywoods Beach, who has done most of his racing on the turf and is twice stakes-placed on that surface, is coming off a win in allowance/optional claiming company on the dirt.

Trainer Doug O'Neill, who won the Gold Cup three consecutive times, 2005-07, with Lava Man  and also took it in 2002 with Sky Jack, has supplemented his own Two Thirty Five  to the Gold Cup. He named Abel Cedillo to ride and drew post 6. O'Neill claimed 7-year-old Two Thirty Five for $50,000 out of a winning effort May 1. Two Thirty Five, a Kentucky-bred son of California sire Stay Thirsty  , won the 2019 Harry F. Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar and placed in three other stakes, including a second in the 2020 San Pasqual.

Entries: Hollywood Gold Cup S. (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Monday, May 31, 2021, Race 8

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $300,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 4:51 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Royal Ship (BRZ)	Mike E. Smith	124	Richard E. Mandella	5/2
2	2Country Grammer (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Bob Baffert	5/2
3	3Brown Storm (CHI)	UMBERTO RISPOLI	122	Michael W. McCarthy	20/1
4	4Heywoods Beach (KY)	Tyler Baze	122	John W. Sadler	5/1
5	5Rushie (FL)	Trevor McCarthy	124	Michael W. McCarthy	5/1
6	6Two Thirty Five (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Doug F. O'Neill	30/1
7	7Express Train (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	John A. Shirreffs	2/1