Express Train tries to avenge Big Cap loss in Hollywood Gold Cup
Express Train seemed poised to win his first Grade 1 in the Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 6 until a two-length lead at the eighth pole became a half-length loss to Idol.
Following a third in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap at 1 1/8 miles at Oaklawn Park on April 17, Express Train is back at Santa Anita for another Grade 1 appearance at 1 1/4 miles in Monday’s $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup.
Idol is not in the field, having been taking out of training this spring. Instead, Express Train’s main rivals are new participants in the California older horse division on dirt – Royal Ship and Country Grammer, the first two finishers in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita on April 17.
:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report
Not only do they have excellent credentials, but they could be a target for jockey Juan Hernandez aboard Express Train. Express Train drew the outside post in a field of seven, a position expected to develop into a stalking trip.
“I think that’s a good spot for him,” trainer John Shirreffs said of the post.
Owned by Lee and Susan Searing, Express Train won the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Santa Anita in January, the lone stakes win of the 4-year-old colt’s career. Express Train stalked the pace and won by a convincing 3 1/2 lengths.
In the Big Cap, Express Train again stalked the pace before taking a sizeable lead in the stretch, perhaps moving to the front too soon, Shirreffs said.
“He ran well in the Santa Anita Handicap,” Shirreffs said. “He started a little bit early, probably.”
In the Oaklawn Handicap, Express Train was the 9-5 favorite. Express Train was second early, raced between rivals on the turn, and finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Silver State, a three-time stakes winner at Oaklawn Park this year.
“The horse that won likes that track,” Shirreffs said.
The Gold Cup is the premier race for 3-year-olds and up on dirt during the spring portion of the six-month Santa Anita meeting, and leads to the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August and perhaps the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in November. Monday’s outcome will determine whether Express Train will start in those races.
“Time will tell,” Shirreffs said. “So far, he’s been pretty consistent. He looks good.”
Royal Ship was a three-time stakes winner in Brazil in late 2019 and early 2020 and won the Californian for his first U.S. stakes victory.
Royal Ship was fifth by a length in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf in his 2021 debut on March 6. In the Californian, Royal Ship was second for the first six furlongs and held off a sustained challenge from Country Grammer to win by a neck.
The Gold Cup will be Royal Ship’s first start at 1 1/4 miles, which is not a concern for trainer Richard Mandella.
“It didn’t look like a problem the other day,” Mandella said. “We don’t know until we do it.”
Country Grammer or perhaps Brown Storm will set the pace. Royal Ship starts from the rail, but there is a long run to the first turn that will allow the field to settle.
“He’ll jump out and get in a good position, I think,” Mandella said.
Country Grammer had his debut for trainer Bob Baffert, and first start since August, in the Californian. Previously trained by Chad Brown, Country Grammer won the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga last August before finishing fifth behind Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at 1 1/4 miles last August.
Flavien Prat, the leading rider at the Santa Anita meeting, rides Country Grammer for the first time on Monday.
The other four runners in the Gold Cup are Brown Storm, Heywoods Beach, Rushie, and Two Thirty Five.
Brown Storm was fourth in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile on turf at Golden Gate Fields on April 24. Heywoods Beach won an allowance race at 1 1/4 miles on dirt by 2 3/4 lengths on May 15. This will be his Grade 1 debut.
Rushie, who like Brown Storm is trained by Michael McCarthy, was second by a nose in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile on April 10. This is his first start at 1 1/4 miles.
Two Thirty Five, who will be a longshot, was claimed for $50,000 from a win at 1 1/16 miles on May 1. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Two Thirty Five was supplemented to the Gold Cup for $6,000 when entries were taken on Friday.