Santa Anita Park is set to host the much-anticipated Hollywood Gold Cup Weekend from May 24th to May 26th, 2025. This three-day racing festival promises thrilling action for horse racing fans, featuring multiple stakes races across the weekend. Among the marquee events are the Melair Stakes, offering a prize purse of $125,000; the Santa Margarita Stakes (Grade II) with $200,000 in prize money; and the prestigious Hollywood Gold Cup (Grade II), also carrying a $200,000 purse, scheduled to headline the final day on May 26th.
The opening day of the festival on May 24th will commence with a Maiden Special Weight race run over a 1-mile distance. The race is open to California-bred or California-sired maidens that are fillies and mares aged three, four, and five years old. With a prize purse of $60,000, this race will see eight contenders competing: Ridegold, We the Hobby, Stubborn, California Rocks, Dertien, French Moonlight, Less is More, and Winter Snow.
The second race of the day is another Maiden Special Weight, this time limited to two-year-old fillies that are either California-bred or California-sired. The race will be contested over a sprint distance of 4½ furlongs with a prize purse of $60,000. The eleven horses entered are That Ain’t Right, Smiling Carmen, Final Table Lady, Love of the Nile, Shady Stripes, Liberation, Bella Chavela, Lady Victoria, Can You Dream, Still Unwritten, and Aguila Azul.
Next up is a third Maiden Special Weight for California-bred or California-sired fillies and mares aged three, four, and five. The race is again run over 1 mile, with a prize purse of $60,000. The eight entries in this contest include G’Oro, O K Rose, Tis Sunrise, Odie’s Memory Lane, Wild Cat Danzing, Hello Kid O Kid O, Silver Flirt, and Religiously.
The fourth race of the day brings stakes action into the spotlight. This $100,000 stakes race is for Golden State Series-eligible California-bred or sired horses aged three years and older. The race is set over a 6-furlong distance and has attracted seven runners: Spiritual Advisor, Private Gem, Book Smart, Tapatio Leo, Geezer, I’m a Bad Boy, and Final Storm. As one of the key events of the day, this race is expected to be a crowd favorite.
Following that, the fifth race offers a Maiden Claiming opportunity for California-bred or California-sired horses aged three to five. With a modest prize purse of $15,000, the race covers a 1-mile distance. The contenders are They’renotlikeus, Betterbelucky, Sir Nano, Naval Harbor, Toppers Wager, Jennys Tiz, Silver N Black, and Dontgetfooledagain.
The sixth race continues the excitement with a $100,000 stakes event open to Golden State Series-eligible fillies and mares aged three and up. This 1-mile race includes seven competitive entries: Sneaker, Cornelia Fort, Prancingthruparis, Ashleys Sandcastle, Blevys Tiger, Shocking Grey, and Quantum Innergy. The quality of this field sets the stage for an intense contest.
Another stakes event follows as the seventh race, this one reserved for three-year-old fillies eligible for the Golden State Series. Run over 1 1/16 miles, the race offers a $125,000 purse. Among the runners are Lady Mendelssohn, In the Air Tonight, Om N Joy, Going Deep, Sunset Grazen, Fibonaccis Ride, and Miso Phansy, all of whom bring strong credentials to the track.
The eighth race of the day is yet another Golden State Series stakes race, this one over 1 mile with $100,000 up for grabs. It is open to California-bred or California-sired horses aged three and older. Seven contenders will line up for this contest: Stamp My Passport, Coalinga Road, Takes Three, Kings River Knight, Barely Functional, Clouseau, and Freeport Joe.
Race nine presents a different challenge in the form of an Allowance Optional Claiming event. Open to California-bred or California-sired fillies and mares three years old and upward, the race is set for 6 furlongs with a $61,000 purse. Eligible horses must either have never won $21,000 other than maiden, claiming, or starter races, or must not have won two races. The nine-horse field includes Sharp Ride, Petit Filet, No Cap, Chasing Kat, Eltonsingsanother, Thirsty Trickster, Lady Gregory, Theresasilverlinin, and Clubhouse Bride.
The closing race of Day 1 is a grand finale: a $125,000 stakes race for three-year-olds eligible for the Golden State Series. The race is scheduled over a distance of 1 1/8 miles, making it the longest race of the day. The strong lineup consists of Western Freedom, Style Cat, Drop Um, Prince of Del Mar, Bro Bro, Cali Cat, Got Soul, and Santa Barbarian. This feature event is expected to attract a great deal of attention from fans and connections alike.
With a mix of maiden races, allowance contests, and lucrative stakes events, the Hollywood Gold Cup Weekend at Santa Anita Park is shaping up to be a spectacular celebration of California racing. Fans attending the races will be treated not only to thrilling competition on the track but also to the first-class amenities Santa Anita is known for. As the action concludes on Day 1, all eyes will turn to the remaining two days of the festival, promising even more high-caliber racing. Stay tuned for full coverage of Days 2 and 3.
