Subsanador will try to rediscover his best form in the upcoming Hollywood Gold Cup

The Argentine-bred runner will face just four rivals next Monday at Santa Anita Park, including British Isles

ARCADIA, California (Special to Turf Diario).- After a comeback filled with expectations and still far from the devastating level that once carried him to the elite, Subsanador will face another major test next Monday at Santa Anita Park, when he lines up in the traditional Hollywood Gold Cup (G2-2000m, dirt, US$200,000 purse), one of the highlights of the special Memorial Day program.

Winner of the California Crown (G1) before enduring an extended 18-month layoff, the son of Fortify will now attempt to regain lost ground and prove that he still has plenty left to offer on the North American scene.

The assignment will not be easy, of course. The Wathnan Racing representative will face several tough and in-form rivals, headed by British Isles, recent hero of the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

For Subsanador, this will be only his third start since returning to competition. Trained by legendary conditioner Richard Mandella, the Argentine chestnut resurfaced in March with a fourth-place finish in the San Carlos Stakes (G3-1400m) and then again finished fourth in the Lake Ouachita Stakes (L) at Oaklawn Park on May 2 over 1700 meters.

Beyond the raw results, both efforts suggested gradual improvement for a horse that spent far too long away from the races and whose comeback understandably requires patience.

Now seven years old, and carrying the experience of having starred both in South America and the United States, Subsanador will look to take another step forward at a distance that appears considerably more favorable to his style.

The Argentine-bred built a brilliant résumé before emigrating north. Champion 2-Year-Old of his generation, G1 winner at Palermo, and later established as one of the best dirt routers/milers in the United States, he reached his peak with that outstanding victory in the California Crown, where he unleashed his trademark powerful late kick over Santa Anita’s dirt.

Expectations remain high, particularly because he will once again be partnered by Mike Smith, one of American racing’s iconic riders and a trusted ally for major occasions.

Still, the horse to beat appears to be British Isles.

The son of Justify enters off a breakout performance in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), where he crushed his opposition by 4 1/2 lengths and fully confirmed the high regard in which trainer Richard Baltas has always held him. Though disappointing afterward in the Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, he now returns to the track where he produced the best effort of his career and shapes as the leading contender.

The field will also include Forged Steel, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., who will try to give his trainer back-to-back victories in the race following last year’s success by Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator). The son of Vekoma enters in improving form after an easy allowance victory at Oaklawn Park and will now gain the services of Flavien Prat for the first time.

Another intriguing name is Mc Vay, whose story carries strong emotional undertones.

The horse developed his entire career under the guidance of the late John Shirreffs, who unexpectedly passed away last February at the age of 80. Following that loss, the horse transferred to the barn of Peter Eurton and enters off a convincing allowance victory at Santa Anita.

The Hollywood Gold Cup will share the spotlight with two additional Grade I events, the Shoemaker Mile (G1) and the Gamely Stakes (G1), in what promises to be a superb afternoon for California racing.

For Subsanador, however, the challenge carries special meaning.

It represents an opportunity to feel competitive again in a major race, to rebuild confidence, and to remind everyone why he was once regarded as one of the best horses bred in Argentina from his generation.

Because regardless of recent results, his class remains intact.

And races like the Hollywood Gold Cup often provide champions with the perfect stage to reignite their brilliance.