Subsanador will try to end a 29-year drought for Argentina in the Hollywood Gold Cup

The last Argentine victory in the historic race came courtesy of Gentlemen in 1997, back when the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) was still contested at legendary Hollywood Park

By Diego H. Mitagstein

There are races that, because of their history, prestige, and setting, carry a different weight altogether. The Hollywood Gold Cup, inaugurated in 1938 and quickly transformed into one of the premier events for older horses in the United States, unquestionably belongs in that category.

And there, among legends, champions, and some of the most memorable pages in American racing history, Argentina managed to leave a profound mark—one that still survives the passage of time.

This Monday, in a new renewal of the historic event, Argentine champion Subsanador (Fortify) will attempt to join the gallery of South American heroes who managed to conquer the race.

It will represent another major challenge for the Richard Mandella trainee, who once again steps into elite North American company seeking to recover the brilliance that made him one of the continent’s leading older horses a few seasons ago.

Argentina’s relationship with the Hollywood Gold Cup dates back virtually to the very origins of the race itself.

After the unforgettable Seabiscuit (Hard Tack) captured the inaugural running in 1938, the following year produced the first Argentine breakthrough: Kayak, a son of Congreve, became the first Argentine-bred horse to win the race—and also the first foreign runner ever to do so.

That 1939 victory carried enormous significance.

Argentine racing was only beginning to export its quality to the world, and Kayak became one of the pioneers in proving that horses bred in the Southern Hemisphere could compete on equal terms with America’s best.

In an era when international travel was an adventure in itself and adaptation far more difficult than today, his triumph opened a historic door.

Three decades would pass before Argentine colors returned to the Hollywood Gold Cup winner’s circle.

Then, in 1969, came Figonero, one of the most extraordinary horses ever exported from Argentina.

Trained in California by the legendary Warren Stute, the son of Idle Hour developed a tremendous campaign in the United States and found in the Hollywood Gold Cup one of the defining performances of his career.

Figonero possessed exceptional versatility.

He excelled over both turf and dirt and ultimately established himself as a genuine racing machine. His Gold Cup triumph further cemented the immense international prestige Argentine horses had achieved during those golden decades.

The third Argentine flag to wave over the race came much more recently, carried by a name that still inspires admiration today: Gentlemen.

The crack bred by Haras de La Pomme captured the 1997 Hollywood Gold Cup when the race was still held at legendary Hollywood Park, the iconic stage of California racing.

A son of Robin des Bois and also trained by Richard Mandella, Gentlemen became one of the finest Argentine exports of the 1990s.

He possessed class, power, and tremendous stamina over classic distances. His Gold Cup success elevated him to genuine international stardom as he regularly faced the best older horses in the United States.

But South America’s impact on the race did not end there.

One year before Gentlemen’s victory, in 1996, Brazilian superstar Siphon (Itajara) delivered a memorable exhibition.

The son of Itajara became one of the greatest horses ever produced by Brazil and eventually reached superstar status in the United States, at one point being considered among the best horses in the world.

Later, in 2004, Chile also wrote its golden chapter through Total Impact (Stuka), another South American runner of tremendous quality who managed to capture the race and further extend the region’s influence in an event historically reserved for champions.

Ultimately, the Hollywood Gold Cup represents far more than simply a historic American race.

It is also a stage upon which South America—and particularly Argentina—helped build part of its international racing prestige.

Now, it will be Subsanador’s turn.

The chestnut who captured multiple Group 1 races in Argentina and established himself among the country’s elite runners will attempt to revive those unforgettable achievements.

It will not be easy, because once again the competition features top-class rivals.

But history has shown that when an Argentine horse enters the Hollywood Gold Cup, dismissing him too quickly is rarely a wise idea.