Richard Mandella's Royal Ship, formerly a turf specialist, appears ready for his close-up on dirt, as he heads Monday's Grade I, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Santa Anita Park.

Originally run and won in 1938 by Seabiscuit at Hollywood Park, Monday's renewal has attracted a field of seven 3-year-olds and up at a mile and one quarter and will mark the 83rd renewal of one of North America's most prestigious races for handicap division horses.

2021 Hollywood Gold Cup Field & Odds

Race 8 at Santa Anita on Monday, May 31 - Post 7:51 PM

Entry	Horse	ML Odds	Jockey	Trainer
1	Royal Ship (BRZ)	5-2	Mike Smith 124 Lbs	Richard Mandella
2	Country Grammer	5-2	Flavien Prat 122 Lbs	Bob Baffert
3	Brown Storm (CHI)	20-1	Umberto Rispoli 122 Lbs	Michael McCarthy
4	Heywoods Beach	5-1	Tyler Baze 122 Lbs	John Sadler
5	Rushie	5-1	Trevor McCarthy 124 Lbs	Michael McCarthy
6	Two Thirty Five	30-1	Abel Cedillo 122 Lbs	Doug O'Neill
7	Express Train	2-1	Juan Hernandez 124 Lbs	John Shirreffs

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Prominent among those who will try to deny Royal Ship is the John Shirreffs-trained Express Train, who returns to Santa Anita following a third place finish in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap and the Michael McCarthy-trained Rushie, who was beaten a nose in the ungraded Oaklawn Mile on April 10.

A 5-year-old gelding who was making only his third start on dirt, Brazilian-bred Royal Ship stalked the pace proved gamest late in taking the Grade II, 1 1/8 mile Californian Stakes by neck on April 17. A Group I winner on grass in Brazil, Royal Ship, a 5-year-old gelding by Midshipman, had been winless in four starts for Mandella prior to the Californian.

In winning the iconic Gold Cup prep, Royal Ship earned a Gold Cup-best last-out Beyer Speed figure of 108 and will hope to stretch his current form to a mile and a quarter-a distance that's he's never tried.

Owned by Fox Hill Farms, Inc. and Siena Farm, LLC, Royal Ship is 12-6-1-2 and will be ridden by Mike Smith for the sixth consecutive time.

A rousing 31/4 length winner of the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes three starts back on Jan. 30, Express Train opened up turning for home in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap on March 6, but was overtaken late to be defeated by a half length by Idol.

A 4-year-old colt by Union Rags, Express Train was subsequently made the 9-5 favorite in the Grade II Oaklawn Handicap, but finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths. Owned by Lee and Susan Searing's C R K Stable, Express Train, who is 10-3-4-1, rates a huge chance with regular rider Juan Hernandez back aboard.

Rushie, a one mile maiden winner in his second start eight races back on Feb. 1, 2020, has raced out of town in his last four races, finishing second by a nose on April 10 at Oaklawn Park, seventh by 6 1/2 lengths in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland Nov. 7, winning the Grade II Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs by 1 3/4 lengths on Sept. 5 and running third, beaten 8 ¼ lengths, in the Grade II Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on July 11, 2020.

With newly relocated Trevor McCarthy set to ride for the first time, Rushie, a 4-year-old Florida-bred colt by Liam's Map who will be trying a mile and one quarter for the first time, will run out of his own stall for the first time since finishing third in the Grade I Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on June 6, 2020. Owned by Jim and Donna Daniell, Rushie is 9-3-2-2 with earnings of $583,151.

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