Santa Anita: Majestic Harbor pointing to Gold Cup in June

ARCADIA, Calif. – Majestic Harbor won his first stakes in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup over 1 1/2 miles on March 29, a win that has led trainer Sean McCarthy to pick an even loftier goal for early summer.

McCarthy said on Friday that Majestic Harbor is a candidate for the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 28. The Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita over 1 1/4 miles on the main track was formerly known as the Hollywood Gold Cup. Hollywood Park closed permanently last December.

Majestic Harbor won the $100,750 Tokyo City Cup by three lengths, leading by as many as five lengths in the stretch. The victory proved to McCarthy that Majestic Harbor can handle a distance. The Gold Cup at Santa Anita would test Majestic Harbor against tougher competition.
“I’d like to try him over a mile and a quarter,” McCarthy said. “The Breeders’ Cup Classic is over 1 1/4 miles, and it’s in the back of my mind.”

McCarthy, who won his first graded stakes in the Tokyo City, said that Majestic Harbor could prep for the Gold Cup at Santa Anita with a start in the $200,000 Californian Stakes over 1 1/8 miles on May 31. The Californian was also previously run at Hollywood Park.

Majestic Harbor races for Ron Beegle’s Gallant Stable. A 6-year-old horse by Rockport Harbor, Majestic Harbor has won 5 of 21 starts and $331,764.