Santa Anita Stable Notes Saturday, May 23, 2026

STABLE NOTES BY VICTOR RYAN

SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2026

- GII GOLD CUP: GI WINNER SUBSANADOR LOOKS TO REGAIN TOP FORM - JOCKEY HERNANDEZ CLOSES IN ON 3,000 NORTH AMERICAN WINS - WORKS: GI WINNER SEISMIC BEAUTY FIRES BULLET FOR BAFFERT - $35,778 DOUBLE CARRYOVER IN $1 SUNSET PICK 6 SATURDAY - ACTION CONTINUES SUNDAY WITH 9-RACE CARD STARTING AT 1 P.M.

GII GOLD CUP: GI WINNER SUBSANADOR LOOKS TO REGAIN TOP FORM It was in September 2024 that Subsanador gained national acclaim in the U.S. when, after being imported from Argentina, he won the Grade I California Crown at Santa Anita. But after the breakout victory, Subsanador would be sidelined for the next 18 months. He finally made his return on March 29 at Santa Anita in the GIII San Carlos going seven furlongs and finished fourth.

On Monday, as part of a special Memorial Day program at Santa Anita, Subsanador will look to rediscover his top form in the Grade II Hollywood Gold Cup contested at 1 ¼ miles. Trained by Richard Mandella, Subsanador is the 2-1 second choice on the morning line.

Returning in the San Carlos sprinting was designed to serve as a launching pad to the longer races that Subanador prefers. Following the comeback, he was shipped to Oaklawn Park for the Lake Ouachita Stakes going one mile and finished fourth again, this time having been compromised by a stumbling start.

“The ground broke out from him, he stumbled pretty badly. At that point he kind of lost any hope” Mandella said Saturday morning.

Since the Lake Ouachita, Subsanador has worked twice at Santa Anita. This past Monday, Subsanador left observers impressed when posting an eye-catching six-furlong drill in 1:11.6.

“That was first-class work,” Mandella said.

Hall of Famer Mike Smith rides Subsanador again in the Gold Cup. He was also aboard for the California Crown victory. A 7-year-old horse by Fortify, Subsanador has an overall record of 19: 9-2-1 with $1,020,824 in earnings. He is owned by Wathnan Racing.

The 8-5 program favorite in the Gold Cup Is Malarchuk, a relatively new face in California. A 5-year-old horse by Nyquist, Malarchuk made his first eight starts in the east for trainer Chad Brown before being entered in last year’s Fasig-Tipton July Digital Sale. Malarchuk was purchased for $525,000 by the partnership of Reddam Racing and ERJ Racing and moved to trainer Michael McCarthy’s barn at Santa Anita. ERJ Racing is led by retired NHL defenseman Erik Johnson.

In his only start for his new connections, Malarchuk finished second in the Sunland Park Stakes going 1 1/8 miles at Sunland Park on April 5. He’ll be ridden by Juan Hernandez for the first time in the Gold Cup.

First post Monday is 1 p.m. PT for a 10-race card. The Hollywood Gold Cup goes as the fifth race at approximately 3 p.m. The field in post position order: Forged Steel, Flavien Prat (4-1); Mc Vay, Hector Berrios (8-1); Subsanador, Mike Smith (2-1); Malarchuk, Juan Hernanderz (8-5); British Isles, Joel Rosario (3-1).

JOCKEY HERNANDEZ CLOSING IN ON 3,000 WINS IN NORTH AMERICA Jockey Juan Hernandez is closing in on his 3,000th win in North America, a major career milestone for any rider. Through Friday, the 34-year-old native of Mexico had tallied 2,998 victories in North America. On a nine-race card Saturday at Santa Anita, Hernandez has six mounts scheduled. They include two favorites: He’s a Knockout (6-5) in the Snow Chief Stakes for trainer Carla Gaines, which goes as the eighth race; and King’s Ride (5-2) for trainer Craig Lewis in the ninth race.

Hernandez’s first victory came in Puerto Rico in 2009 before soon moving on to Northern California circuit. After finding success on that circuit, he shifted his tack to the southern part of the state full-time in 2020. Hernandez has since tallied nine riding titles at Santa Anita. At the current Hollywood Meet, Hernandez is tied for third in the jockey’s standings with 15 wins, two fewer than leading rider Antonio Fresu. Hernandez is represented by longtime agent Craig O’Bryan.

WORKS: GI WINNER SEISMIC BEAUTY FIRES BULLET FOR BAFFERT Multiple Grade I winner Seismic Beauty, sidelined since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, fired a bullet Saturday at Santa Anita when working six furlongs in 1:11.8. Trained by Bob Baffert, the 5-year-old mare by Uncle Mo is a candidate to return in the GII Santa Margarita going 1 /8 miles next Saturday at Santa Anita.

Multiple stakes winner Hey Jessie worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds. Three weeks ago, the California-bred daughter of Grazen beat open company in the Santa Barbara Stakes at 1 ½ miles on turf. She could return in the Possibly Perfect Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 ¼ miles on turf on June 12.

Among Michael McCarthy’s workers were Lilo Lil, recent winner of the Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf on April 5. The daughter of Carvaggio was clocked going five furlongs in 1:01.0 on the main track.

Also working for McCarthy was Mondego, recent winner of the GII Charles Whittingham at 1 ¼ miles on turf on May 2. In his first work since the Whittingham, the 6-year-old gelding by Lope de Vega drilled four furlongs on the main track in 49.2 seconds.

FINISH LINES: Saturday’s $1 Sunset Pick 6 has a double carryover of $35,776. The wager starts at 2:05 p.m. PT with the ninth race from Gulfstream Park…The $1 Coast-to-Coast Pick 5 starts at 1:34 p.m. with the eighth race from Gulfstream… Santa Anita has a nine-card set for Sunday. First post is at 1 p.m…On Memorial Day Monday, Santa Anita has a 10-race program set the includes the Grade I Shoemaker Mile, Grade I Gamely Stakes and GII Hollywood Gold Cup. First post is also at 1 p.m…