Santa Anita Memorial Day Blockbuster: Three Graded Stakes Headline a Historic Card

HORSE RACING

May 25, 2026

Memorial Day at Santa Anita Park remains one of the crown jewels of the West Coast horse racing calendar. This year’s holiday card features a spectacular trio of graded stakes: the historic $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), the $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1), and the $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1), a crucial “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

From legacy dirt marathons to elite turf battles, here is your comprehensive, runner-by-runner guide and betting analysis for the holiday’s marquee events.

1. The $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2)

– Distance: $1 1/4 (10 furlongs) on Dirt
– Division: 3-year-olds and up

The Legacy

First contested in 1938 at the historic, now-departed Hollywood Park, the Hollywood Gold Cup is a cornerstone of American racing history. Its inaugural winner was none other than the legendary Seabiscuit. Over the subsequent 88 years, the race’s honor roll has served as a “who’s who” of champions, including Noor, Citation, Swaps, Affirmed, Cigar, and Skip Away. More recently, heroes like Accelerate and Vino Rosso used this race as a launching pad to Breeders’ Cup Classic glory.

While Bob Baffert (who holds a record 10 victories in this event) sits out this year’s edition, a compact but highly competitive field of five will lock horns over the classic 10-furlong distance.

Contender Analysis

British Isles (3-1): Trained by Richard Baltas, this gelded son of Justify is the horse to beat. He was brilliant over this track and distance in March, drawing off to win the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap by 4 1/2 lengths. Although his subsequent trip to Keeneland for the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) resulted in a flat sixth-place finish, he returns home to a surface where he excels. Boasting tactical speed and class, expect jockey Joel Rosario to keep him close to the pace.
Subsanador (2-1): An Argentine import of immense quality, this 7-year-old son of Fortify represents the legendary tandem of trainer Richard Mandella and jockey Mike Smith. A Group 1 winner in his native country and winner of the California Crown (G1), he is working his way back from an 18-month layoff. While his two starts this year (fourth-place finishes in the San Carlos and Lake Ouachita) suggest he is still finding his footing, his class is undeniable. If he takes a step forward in fitness, he is a major threat.
Forged Steel (4-1): Shipping in from Florida for Saffie Joseph, Jr., this improving Vekoma colt seeks to replicate stablemate Skippylongstocking’s victory in this race last year. He exits a sharp, front-running allowance victory at Oaklawn Park at a mile, which followed a gutsy third-place finish in the 1 1/2-mile Temperance Hill. Landing the services of elite rider Flavien Prat, he has the early foot to control the pace from the rail.
Malarchuk (8-5): The morning-line favorite for Reddam Racing and Michael McCarthy. While incredibly consistent in allowance and optional claiming company—most recently finishing second in the Casa Ford Sunland Park Stakes—he has yet to prove he can defeat top-tier, graded stakes company at this distance. Under local leading rider Juan Hernandez, he projects a stalking trip but may find the final furlong of this classic distance a stern test.
Mc Vay (5-1): Now trained by Peter Eurton after the passing of Hall of Fame trainer John Shirreffs, this 5-year-old son of Constitution stepped forward with a front-running allowance win on April 5. He possesses plenty of early speed and could pressure Forged Steel early, but this represents a steep rise in class.

BUSR Picks

British Isles – Returns to his favorite track and distance; the Big ‘Cap winner is the class of the field.
Subsanador – Hall of Fame connections can never be ignored; eligible to peak in his third start off the bench.
Forged Steel – A dangerous speed threat who will try to wire them under Prat.

2. The $300,000 Gamely Stakes (G1)

– Distance: 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on Turf
– Division: Fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up

Tactical Overview

The Gamely Stakes serves as a compelling crossroads for East Coast shippers and established West Coast turf specialists. Trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. returns to the site of his lucrative 2023 Memorial Day double, sending out an intriguing former Californian to challenge local favorite Phil D’Amato’s formidable contingent.

Contender Analysis

Hang the Moon (8-1): After being purchased for $625,000, this 6-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo was transferred to Florida-based Saffie Joseph, Jr. She ran a big race to win her comeback allowance at Gulfstream in February, then missed by a neck in the Sand Springs Stakes. She is highly familiar with the Santa Anita turf, having won the Rodeo Drive (G2) here in 2024. Flavien Prat climbs aboard, making her a live upset candidate.
Thought Process (7-5): The deserved favorite for local turf maestro Phil D’Amato. She made a triumphant return from a six-month layoff to capture the Buena Vista Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita in February. Boasting a stellar record of 6 wins from 9 career starts—including multiple graded stakes victories as a juvenile—she is in peak form. Hector Berrios rides from post 5.
Vronti (4-1): An English-bred filly trained by H. Graham Motion. Since arriving in the United States, she has been highly progressive, breaking her maiden at Tampa Bay before taking a highly competitive allowance at Keeneland in April. She steps into Grade 1 company for the first time, but has the ceiling to compete with these. Juan Hernandez takes the mount.
Take A Breath (10-1): Trained by Mark Glatt, this 4-year-old import needed time to acclimate to American racing, starting 0-for-5. However, she has found her stride with consecutive wins in the Santa Ana (G3) and the Royal Heroine. The stretch-out to 1 1/8 miles should suit her perfectly.
May Day Ready (6-1): Runner-up to Take A Breath in the Royal Heroine, this Richard Mandella trainee remains a threat if she can reverse that decision with a slightly cleaner trip.

BUSR Picks

Hang the Moon – Loves this course, possesses a lethal turn of foot, and gets a major jockey upgrade in Prat.
Thought Process – The class of the local division; hard to see her out of the exacta.
Vronti – Shippers for Graham Motion must always be respected on the grass.

3. The $300,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1)

– Distance: 1 mile on Turf
– Division: 3-year-olds and up
– Note: “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Mile Qualifier

Tactical Overview

Renamed in 1990 to honor the legendary Hall of Fame jockey Bill Shoemaker, this turf mile has historically paved a direct path to the Breeders’ Cup. Phil D’Amato has dominated this event, saddling five of the last twelve winners. However, with the scratch of El Potente due to a fever, an elite field of eight remains, headlined by a Breeders’ Cup runner-up making his highly anticipated seasonal debut.

Contender Analysis

Formidable Man (7-5): The Michael McCarthy-trained 5-year-old by City of Light is the standout class of the race. He put together a sensational 2025 campaign, winning the Del Mar Mile (G1) and the Eddie Read (G2) before running a massive second-place finish at 18-1 odds in the Breeders’ Cup Mile behind Notable Speech. Boasting over $1.5 million in earnings and a perfect stalking style, he is the undisputed horse to beat under Flavien Prat, even coming off the layoff.
King of Gosford (10-1): The defending champion of this race. Although he is winless in two starts since his front-running victory here last year, the Zoustar gelding loves the Santa Anita turf. He will likely target his preferred position on or near the lead and could prove very tough to catch if left alone early under Kazushi Kimura.
Almendares (5-1): Another talented weapon from the Phil D’Amato stable. He exits with a gritty neck victory in the American Stakes (G3) over stablemate Genius Jimmy. A late-blooming 6-year-old with a powerful closing kick, he will be dangerous late under Antonio Fresu if the pace heats up early.
Genius Jimmy (20-1): Runner-up in the American Stakes, this Michael McCarthy trainee possesses plenty of early speed but has historically found it difficult to finish the job against elite, top-level milers.
Seal Team (12-1): A blue-blooded son of War Front trained by Richard Mandella. While talented, he has not visited the winner’s circle since late 2023 and faces a demanding task coming from off the pace.

BUSR Picks

Formidable Man – The Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up is simply a cut above this field on his best day.
King of Gosford – The defending champion will dictate the terms up front and has a high cruising speed.
Almendares – The premier closer in the field; will capitalize on any early pace duel.

The Grand Finale: Memorial Day Outlook

As the gates fly open on this blockbuster Memorial Day card, Santa Anita Park once again proves why it is heralded as “The Great Race Place.” With a classic dirt marathon in the Hollywood Gold Cup, elite turf mares laying it all on the line in the Gamely, and a golden Breeders’ Cup ticket waiting at the finish line of the Shoemaker Mile, this holiday card is a pure horseplayer’s paradise.

Whether you are leaning on the undeniable class of Formidable Man, betting on British Isles to rule his favorite dirt track once more, or looking for Hang the Moon to eclipse her turf rivals at a price, the stage is set for a legendary afternoon of racing. Grab your program, lock in your multi-race exotic tickets, and let’s kick off the summer season in style. Happy hunting, and may all your photo finishes go your way.

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