Stakes action took center stage at Santa Anita Park on Memorial Day 2026 as fans were treated to an outstanding afternoon featuring the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup, Grade I Gamely Stakes, and Grade I Shoemaker Mile.
Under beautiful sunny skies and mild Southern California weather, the “Great Race Place” delivered a memorable 10-race card filled with top-class performances and exciting moments throughout the afternoon.
The featured stakes action began in Race 5 with the historic Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup, a race rich in tradition dating back to its days at Hollywood Park before finding a new home at Santa Anita following Hollywood Park’s closure.
The Gold Cup did not disappoint.
East coast shipper Forged Steel turned in a dominant performance, going virtually gate-to-wire while leaving his rivals far behind. The talented gray colt, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden masterfully by Flavien Prat, proved that the trip west was more than worthwhile.
Forged Steel Racehorse – Photo Credit: Nancy Wilkinson
Forged Steel, a son of Vekoma out of Scorecard (by Tale of the Cat), stopped the clock in an impressive 2:01.58. That performance made him the second-fastest Hollywood Gold Cup winner since Accelerate recorded a 2:01.38 winning time back in 2018.
The 4-year-old colt cruised to a stunning 9 1/2-length victory while making it look routine from start to finish. Forged Steel is owned by C2 Racing Stable, LLC and Mathis Stable, LLC and entered the race off back-to-back victories at Oaklawn Park.
The stakes action continued in Race 6 with the Grade I Gamely Stakes, where morning-line favorite Thought Process delivered as expected with a winning performance on the turf.
Gamely Stakes winner Thought Process – Photo Credit: Nancy Wilkinson
Later on the card, the Grade I Shoemaker Mile saw Formidable Man capture the victory in another strong performance during an outstanding day of racing.
Thought Process is by Collected out of Creative Thinking (by Creative Cause) and is owned by the Estate of Brereton C. Jones. Formidable Man, owned by Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Warren Jr., is by City of Light out of Fanticola (by Silent Name).
Memorial Day 2026 proved once again that Santa Anita remains one of the premier stages for elite Thoroughbred racing in North America.
Flavien Prat on Formidable Man Racehorse – Photo Credit: Nancy Wilkinson
