Stilleto Boy Sharp for Hollywood Gold Cup

Now that Stilleto Boy  has figured out how to win in California, can he do it a second time, in the May 30 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1)?

Prior to his victory in the April 30 Californian Stakes (G2), Stilleto Boy hadn't won for Steve Moger since Moger bought him for $420,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale. But he had more than paid for himself by placing in select company five times, including a third in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by 1/ST BET (G1).

The Gold Cup, for decades an iconic summer fixture at Hollywood Park, was last run on the property that is now So-Fi Stadium in 2013, when Game On Dude won his second of two Gold Cups. Since then, Santa Anita Park has conducted the race, which for its 2022 running has drawn a field of five for a $400,000 purse at 1 1/4 miles. 

A grade 1 win would be a boon to Stilleto Boy and his trainer, Steve's brother Ed Moger Jr. Steve and Ed collaborated on Stormy Lucy  to win the 2015 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) at Del Mar, Ed's sole grade 1 victory.

"He's only won three races in his life, so a grade 1 win would be significant for the horse as well as me," Ed Moger said.

In the 1 1/8-mile Californian, Stilleto Boy and jockey Juan Hernandez led throughout to defeat 2-5 favorite Express Train  by 2 1/4 lengths, who is bypassing the Gold Cup. Stilleto Boy doesn't need the lead, and Ed Moger said that "I think his best races have been when he's halfway close to the pace."

In the Pegasus, which the trainer said was Stilleto Boy's best race for them prior to the Californian, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Shackleford  sat in fourth early. Stilleto Boy finished third to 2021 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Life Is Good  and 2021 Horse of the Year Knicks Go  . 

"He ran so good in the Pegasus Cup," said Steve Moger. "He's run against some pretty good horses."

With his Californian victory, Stilleto Boy became a millionaire. Hernandez will be on the gelding for just the second time, and they drew post 5.

Royal Ship  finished second in the 2021 Gold Cup after winning that year's Californian. At Del Mar last summer, he ran third in the San Diego Handicap (G2) and seventh in the Aug. 21 TVG Pacific Classic (G1). Royal Ship was then given time to recover from inflammation in his hind suspensory ligaments and early bone bruising in cannon bones. A 6-year-old son of Eclipse Award winner Midshipman  , Royal Ship returned for trainer Richard Mandella to win Santa Anita's John Shear Mile April 10 by five lengths under Mike Smith. Smith, who has ridden Royal Ship in all of his U.S. starts, will be back aboard in the Gold Cup from post 2.

Sean McCarthy trains Gold Cup entrants Spielberg  (Flavien Prat, post 3) and Defunded  (Abel Cedillo, post 4). 

Spielberg finished third in the Californian to Stilleto Boy and Express Train and, when trained by Bob Baffert, fourth behind Express Train, Warrant , and Stilleto Boy in the March 5 Santa Anita Handicap Presented by Yaamava' Resort & Casino (G1). He has won three of 13 races over three seasons, including the 2020 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and a Santa Anita allowance optional claiming race this past January. Spielberg is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Union Rags   and cost $1 million as a yearling.

Defunded is coming off two consecutive wins in allowance optional claiming company, the first at Del Mar last August when trained by Baffert and the most recent May 8 at Santa Anita for McCarthy. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred gelded son of Dialed In  , Defunded finished second in the 2021 Affirmed Stakes (G3) and Los Alamitos Derby (G3).

There Goes Harvard  is also riding a two-race winning streak in allowance optional claiming company, both races this year at Santa Anita. Michael McCarthy trains the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Will Take Charge  . There Goes Harvard dead-heated with Parnelli  April 17 at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt and then won a one-mile turf race May 14 by 2 1/2 lengths. McCarthy named Irad Ortiz Jr. on There Goes Harvard, who drew the rail.

Entries: Hollywood Gold Cup S. (G1)

Santa Anita Park, Monday, May 30, 2022, Race 4

• Grade I
• 1 1/4m
• Dirt
• $400,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 2:47 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1There Goes Harvard (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Michael W. McCarthy	8/1
2	2Royal Ship (BRZ)	Mike E. Smith	122	Richard E. Mandella	6/5
3	3Spielberg (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Sean McCarthy	20/1
4	4Defunded (KY)	Abel Cedillo	122	Sean McCarthy	3/1
5	5Stilleto Boy (KY)	Juan J. Hernandez	124	Ed Moger, Jr.	7/5