Santa Anita: Country Grammer holds off Royal Ship in Hollywood Gold Cup

No one’s likely to ever compare Country Grammer and Royal Ship to some of the past racing greats that won the historic Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup, but few editions of the race included a dramatic stretch duel like Monday’s 84th running at Santa Anita.

Country Grammer and Royal Ship, who finished 1-2 in the Californian Stakes at Santa Anita on April 17, raced as a team the entire length of the stretch before Country Grammer prevailed by a head under Flavien Prat, reversing the outcome of the Californian when Royal Ship and Mike Smith got the nod by a neck.

Royalty the likes of Citation, Seabiscuit, Native Diver, Affirmed and Cigar found their way into the Gold Cup winner’s circle. Country Grammer and Royal Ship don’t carry the same glowing credentials, but they put on a great show nonetheless.

The victory gave trainer Bob Baffert his record-tying eighth win in the Gold Cup, the same number as the legendary Charlie Whittingham, who registered his final Gold Cup victory with Ferdinand in 1987.

Brown Storm, a 19-1 longshot, set the pace with fractions of 22.92, 47.16 and 1:12.09 as Country Grammer and Royal Ship sat second and third, respectively, after the first 6 furlongs of the 1¼-mile race.

Country Grammer put his head in front at the top of the stretch, but Royal Ship took a narrow lead in mid-stretch before Country Grammer battled back doggedly along the rail and prevailed for his first Grade I victory and third overall in eight starts as the 9-5 favorite.

Royal Ship was 4¼ lengths in front of Express Train, the 2-1 second choice, at the end in the seven-horse field.

The official time was 2:02.23.

“He ran super well,” said Prat, who scored his first Gold Cup victory. “He broke well and I was able to get myself in a good spot. I was a little worried when I saw Mike Smith on the outside of me. I wish I could have kept him inside. Mike took the lead on me, but my horse was really game to come back.”

Country Grammer, a 4-year-old son of Tonalist, made the first six starts of his career for Chad Brown in New York and Florida before being transferred to Baffert and making his West Coast debut in the Californian.

“Elliot Walden and WinStar (the horse’s owner) bought him to bring to California because they figured a mile and a quarter was his distance,” Baffert said. “His form on the dirt was really good last year.

“It looked like he was beat today, but he kicked it in … it’s exciting. He ran a big race last time and just got beat. He was really ready to go today and I think the distance was the key. He got it done with a lot of class and determination.”

Royal Ship, bred in Brazil and making his sixth start in the U.S. for trainer Richard Mandella, was making his first start at a mile and a quarter and was the 3-1 third choice in the wagering.

Express Train, last early, rallied for third, a half-length better than Rushie.

Baffert won his first Gold Cup with Real Quiet in 1999 and then followed with Congaree (2003), First Dude (2011), Game On Dude (2012-13), Cupid (2013) and Improbable (2020).

This was the eighth Hollywood Gold Cup run at Santa Anita. The first 76 editions of the race were held at Hollywood Park before its closure in 2013.

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