Now then Stilleto boy found a way to win in California, can he do it a second time, at the Hollywood Gold Cup May 30 (G1)?
Before winning the April 30 California Stakes (G2), Stilleto Boy hadn’t won for Steve Moger since Moger bought him for $420,000 at Fasig-Tipton July 2021 Horse sale race. But he has paid more for himself by setting foot in a select company five times, including a third in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by 1/ST BET (G1).
The Gold Cup was, for decades, an iconic summer fixture at Hollywood Park, was last run on what is now the So-Fi Stadium in 2013, when Game On Dude won its second Gold Cup. Since then, Santa Anita . Park conducted the race, its 2022 run drew a field year of $400,000 at 1 1/4 miles.
Winning Level 1 will be a boon for Stilleto Boy and his coach Steve’s brother Ed Moger J. Steve and Ed have teamed up Storm Lucy to win the Matriarch Staking 2015 (G1T) at Del MarEd’s only level 1 win.
“He’s only won three races in his life, so winning first place will mean as much to the horse as it does to me,” said Ed Moger.
In 1 1/8 mile in California, Stilleto Boy and driver Juan Hernandez take the lead to beat the favorites 2-5 Express train equal to 2 1/4 of the length, who is passing the Gold Cup. Stilleto Boy doesn’t need a lead, and Ed Moger said that “I think his best race is when he’s almost at half-speed.”
In the Pegasus race, which the coach said was Stilleto Boy’s best race for them yet against the Californian, his 4-year-old Kentucky half-blood Shackleford sit at wednesday early. Stilleto Boy third until 2021, Big Ass Fan Breeders ‘Cup Dirters’ (G1) winner Life is good and in 2021 the horse of the year Knicks Go .
Steve Moger said: “He ran really well in the Pegasus Cup. “He’s running with some pretty good horses.”
With the win in California, Stilleto Boy became a millionaire. Hernandez will only take part in gelding for the second time, and they have taken 5th place.
Royal ship runner-up at the 2021 Gold Cup after winning in California that year. In Del Mar Last summer, he finished third at the San Diego Handicap (G2) and seventh in the August 21 TVG Pacific Classic (G1). Royal Ship was then given time to recuperate from cruciate ligament inflammation. posterior and early bone bruises in the cannon bone. Eclipse winner’s 6-year-old son Shipman , Royal Ship returned for coach Richard Mandella to win Santa Anita’s John Shear Mile on April 10 under Mike Smith. Smith, who has flown the Royal Ship in all of his US starts, will return aboard the Gold Cup from lesson 2.
Sean McCarthy Coaches Gold Cup Winners Spielberg (Flavien Prat, lesson 3) and Get reimbursed (Abel Cedillo, lesson 4).
Spielberg finished third in the California to Stilleto Boy and Express Train, and when coached by Bob Baffert, placed fourth behind the Express Train, Warranties , and Stilleto Boy in the March 5 Santa Anita handicap presented by Yaamava ‘Resort & Casino (G1). He’s won three of 13 races in three seasons, including 2020 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) and an optional Santa Anita-enabled claim race this past January. Spielberg is a 4-year-old half-Kentucky son of Union Rags and cost $1 million a year.
Defunded is on two straight wins in the company that claims the allowance option, the first at Del Mar last August when coached by Baffert and the most recent May 8 in Santa Anita for McCarthy. A 4-year-old boy, bred from Kentucky, Dialed Defunded finished second in the Confirmed Bets of 2021 (G3) and the Los Alamitos Derby (G3).
There Goes Harvard is also winning two races in the company’s claim-allowing option, both races this year at Santa Anita. Michael McCarthy coaches his 4-year-old half-Kentucky son Fees will be charged . There Goes Harvard fell in love with Parnelli April 17 at 1 1/16 miles on dirt and then won the 1 mile race on grass on May 14 at 2 1/2. McCarthy named Irad Ortiz Jr. on There Goes Harvard, who painted railroads.
Item: Hollywood S. Gold Cup (G1)
Santa Anita . ParkMonday, May 30, 2022, Race 4
- Level I
- 1 1/4
- Dust
- 400,000 dollars
- 3 years or more
- 2:30pm (local)
