Gold Cup at Santa Anita 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita Park takes place this Saturday, June 28 on the Arcadia, California track. A nice purse of $500,000 will be on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to race 1 1/4 miles on Santa Anita's main track.

A field of seven have been confirmed for the Gold Cup - race 8 on Santa Anita's Saturday card. Post time is 4:30 PM. Here is a glimpse into the past performances of all seven entries for this Grade 1 stakes.

2014 Gold Cup Race Favorite Entries

Game on Dude Bob Baffert trained gelding is a multiple Grade 1 winner and is the defending two time champion in this race - he was second in this race second in 2011 and has won eight of 11 starts at Santa Anita. He has 12 graded stakes scores in his last 18 starts - five straight last year including the 2013 Charles Town Classic over Clubhouse Ride, the 2013 Hollywood Gold Cup in July and the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at Del Mar August 25 in the second fastest time recorded in that race in the last 10 years. He stumbled a bit in the winter losing three straight - a disappointing fifth in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes February 8, a second to Will Take Charge in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs November 29 and a very disappointing ninth as 8-5 favorite in the Breeders' Cup Classic but he bounced back recently with a terrific repeat win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap - a race he's won three times. Last time out was a second in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic April 19. He was the most impressive horse on the planet last year and has looked good again in his last two starts overall. Mike Smith will be in the saddle from the rail as the 4-5 morning line favorite Saturday.

Imperative - improving George Papaprodromou trained gelding has 15 career starts with three wins, four seconds and a third place finish and is coming off a career defining win - in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic over Game On Dude and Clubhouse Ride at 26-1 odds. This after a somewhat disappointing seventh in the competitive Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap March 8 and a good second behind Blingo and ahead of Game On Dude in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes here February 8. His only other stakes start came in September 2012 - a tenth in the Grade 1 FrontRunner. Imperative has placed in five of his last six starts overall and has some success against Game On Dude - intriguing indeed. Kent Desormeaux gets the call from gate 4 as the 4-1 second choice.

Gold Cup 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Fury Kapcori - Jerry Hollendorfer trained filly enters the Gold Cup absolutely on fire - four straight wins this year - all on this track were followed by a good second last time out behind Clubhouse Ride in the Grade 2 Californian also on this track. The wins include the Grade 3 Precisionist Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion by six lengths May 3 and the minor Santana Mile Stakes March 30. He has 15 career starts with six wins, five seconds and a third place finish but never has he looked better than now. Corey Nakatani has the mount from post 2 as the co-third choice - 9-2 odds as he stretches out to 1 1/4 miles for the first time.

Clubhouse Ride - finished second in four straight races to start 2013 including the Charles Town Classic behind Game On Dude, the Big Cap and the Grade 2 San Antonio and then went on to a terrific win in the last year's Californian when it was at Hollywood Park in June. He failed to place in his next five starts however including a sixth in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap in July and a fourth in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup three weeks earlier. He enters off a terrific win in the Grade 2 Californian at 6-1 odds May 31 on this track after having finished fourth in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic April 19 and third in two straight races - behind Fury Kapcori the minor Santana Mile Stakes March 30 here and the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes March. Clubhouse Ride has just five wins in 36 career starts, has never beaten Game On Dude in four career starts but enters this weekend off a nice win (after an eight race losing streak). Joe Talamo rides from gate 3 at 9-2 odds.

Gold Cup betting online at Santa Anita Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Salto Del Indio - Chilean bred Ringling makes his North American debut Saturday after 19 starts at home yielded four wins, five seconds and five third place finishes. He enters having won three if his last five starts with a third and a DNF in there. Salto Del Indio hopes to carry his success from home into his North American debut with Brice Blanc in the reins of the 8-1 fifth choice.

Majestic Harbor - took to the track for the first time since last May and finished a good second behind Blueskiesnrainbows in the Grade 2 San Pasqual at 17-1 odds here January 11 and followed that with an OK fourth in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on this track February 8. Last time out was an OK third behind Clubhouse Ride in the Grade 2 Californian May 31 after he had a career defining win - by three lengths in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup on this track March 29. He now has five wins, six seconds and four thirds in 22 career starts and will be looking to place in his third straight graded stakes races. Tyler Baze will be aboard from the 6-hole Saturday at 12-1 odds.

Lideris - will make his North American debut for trainer Peter Miller. He is coming off a good win in the Grade 1 Gran Premio Asociacion Latinoamericana de Jockey Clubes e Hipodromos at Hipodromo De Monterrico March 15 after a second and a fifth in stakes action on that same track to start his year. He also ended 2013 with a Grade 2 score - the Clasico Hipodromo de Monterrico. Lideris was successful at home and hopes are that his success translates to North America. He starts from the outside post Saturday with Juan Enriquez guiding him at 20-1 odds.