C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stables’ Forged Steel (Vekoma-Scorecard, by Tale of the Cat) gave trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. his second straight win in the $200,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) as he romped to a 9 ½ length victory in the 10-furlong race at Santa Anita Park May 25 to lead the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.
Park. (Benoit photo)
Forged Steel edged away from fellow OBS grad Malarchuk and then poured it on in the stretch to win in a final time of 2:01.58. Joseph previously saddled OBS graduate Skippylongstocking to victory in the race a year ago.
“The horse ran a good race. It was my first time aboard him,” winning jockey Flavien Prat told Santa Anita publicity. “He had a good run in his past races and he showed another good run here today.”
Forged Steel was purchased by C2 Racing Stable for $190,000 at the 2024 OBS March Sale from the de Meric Sales consignment after breezing in :10 flat.
At Churchill Downs May 25, Michael Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman’s Usha (Tiz the Law- Animal Appeal, by Leroidesanimaux) poked her head in front leaving the turn and turned back a late charge from Zeitlos to win the $220,000 Winning Colors (G3).
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, Usha was the winner of last winter’s $300,000 La Brea (G1) at Santa Anita Park. She was purchased by her owners for $600,000 at the 2024 OBS April Sale from the On Point Training & Sales consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Lone Star Park May 25, Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman’s Desert Gate (Omaha Beach-Theogony, by Curlin) drew off to a 6 1/4-length victory in the $300,000 Texas Derby.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Desert Gate notched his second straight stakes win to go along with his victory in last year’s Best Pal Stakes (G3). He was purchased by his owners for $260,000 at the 2025 OBS March Sale from the Navas Equine consignment after breezing in :9 4/5.
At Gulfstream Park May 23, Amy Dunne, Caitlin Dunne, Brenda Miley, Jean Wilkinson, Hoffman Family Racing, Tranquility Lake Farms, Maury Harrington and Christopher Harrington’s Lennilu (Leinster – Lulu’s Pom Pom, by Pomeroy), a multiple-stakes winner on turf, established herself as a multiple-stakes winner on dirt when she was elevated to the victory in the $100,000 Game Face.
The daughter of Leinster was placed first upon the disqualification of first-place finisher and fellow OBS graduate Love Like Lucy following a stewards’ review of the stretch run. Trained by Patrick Biancone, the filly was purchased by Glencrest Farm for $23,000 from the Abbie Road Farm consignment at the 2024 OBS Winter Mixed Sale.