How to bet the Hollywood Gold Cup

A field of six will travel 1 ¼ miles over the Santa Anita dirt in Saturday’s $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1).

Gold Cup Analysis

The pace of the Gold Cup could be established by #4 Brown Storm, who led the way prior to finishing fourth in the Santa Anita H. (G1). #1 Parsimony, #2 Midcourt, and #5 Improbable will be tracking that one with intent during the early stages, and I expect the pace to be honest at the very least.

Gold Cup Contenders

#1 PARSIMONY (15-1) -- O’Neill trainee was a winner at the distance at Meydan most recently but faces a tall task on this occasion. Dominus colt is 2-for-22 lifetime, and his North American form makes him hard to back with confidence from the rail.

#2 MIDCOURT (2-1) -- Top pick removes blinkers today following a close third in the recent Santa Anita H. (G1). Midnight Lute gelding owns a pair of stakes wins on the surface, and I think that the equipment change will make him especially tough when he settles early on. Regular rider Victor Espinoza retains the mount.

#3 HIGHER POWER (9-5) -- Pacific Classic (G1) winner didn’t fire at Gulfstream Park in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) most recently, but has trained well in advance of his second 2020 assignment. Third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on the oval last fall, the 5-year-old has the class to beat this field with a top showing under Flavien Prat. I expect the bay to track from off the pace on Saturday.

#4 BROWN STORM (12-1) -- Dangerous Chilean import has shown improvement since arriving in the states for McCarthy. Scat Daddy chestnut was just three lengths back after setting the pace in the Big 'Cap, and improvement makes him a viable win contender at a nice price in the small field on Saturday. Potential pace setter will be in the mix from the break beneath Cedillo.

#5 IMPROBABLE (2-1) -- Consistently very good colt from the Baffert barn kicked off his 4-year-old season with a fine runner-up showing in the Oaklawn Mile S. City Zip colt comes in fresh with a nice string of morning drills, but his affinity for the 10-furlong distance is still in question. Drayden Van Dyke has the call and will have the contender in the hunt from the start.

#6 TENFOLD (6-1) -- Asmussen pupil ships in with poor form, missing the top-three in seven straight assignments, and the Curlin 5-year-old is hard to back in his Santa Anita debut despite the presence of Mike Smith.

Gold Cup Wagers

• $20 Exacta 2 with 4,5 ($40)