The Richard Mandella-trained Royal Ship will try to win the Grade 1 race that barely eluded him last year when he leaves the starting gate in the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup on Memorial Day at Santa Anita Park. A son of Midshipman, Royal Ship had the lead with one furlong to go in last year's Hollywood Gold Cup before losing by a head to Country Grammer. For Monday, Royal Ship has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup odds.
The Ed Moger Jr.-trained Stilleto Boy is the 7-5 second choice in the five-horse Hollywood Gold Cup field. Defunded (3-1), There Goes Harvard (8-1) and Spielberg (20-1) round out the field. Post time for the $400,000 race is at 5:47 p.m. ET. With an accomplished field set to enter the starting gate on Monday, you'll want to see what astute racing reporter and analyst Michelle Yu has to say before making any 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup picks.
Few people in racing are as connected as Yu. An on-air host and reporter who has provided racing analysis for TVG, HRTV and the Breeders' Cup, Yu has spent a lifetime in racing. Prior to her television career, she worked for trainers Steve Asmussen and Ron Moquett. She also is married to Santa Anita-based trainer Ryan Hanson.
She also has tremendous handicapping chops. In the 2011 Kentucky Derby, she correctly tabbed Animal Kingdom to win at a hefty 21-1. In the 2017 Breeders' Cup, she nailed 11-1 long shot Wuheida to win the Filly and Mare Turf. Last year, in a wide-open Kentucky Derby, she gave out Medina Spirit, who crossed the finish line first, as the winner at 12-1. And in Pool 5 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager this year, she suggested a play on All Other 3-Year-Olds, which cashed at 18-1 when Rich Strike won the Derby.
Since joining SportsLine in November, her picks have cashed in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Sham Stakes, El Camino Real Derby, San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita Handicap, Kentucky Oaks and Preakness Stakes. Anyone who has followed her is way up.
Now, Yu has handicapped the 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup odds, made her picks and constructed her bets. You can only see them here.
Top Hollywood Gold Cup picks
After going through the past performances of every horse in the field, Yu is taking a stand against Defunded, who is 3-1 on the morning line, behind only Royal Ship and Stilleto Boy. A son of Dialed In, Defunded is on a two-race winning streak. However, both of those wins came in allowance races.
In four starts in graded stakes races, he has finished second twice and fourth twice. "He has yet to garner his first stakes win, and I think that will be the case after Monday as well," she says. Yu does not have Defunded in any of her wagers.
How to make Hollywood Gold Cup picks
Yu's top pick is a horse who "has the right running style" for Monday's race. She also is high on a long shot who is an "ultraconsistent performer." She is including these horses in her 2022 Hollywood Gold Cup bets, and so should you. She's sharing which horses to back only at SportsLine.
So who wins the Hollywood Gold Cup? What long shot is a must-back? And how has Yu constructed his wagers? Check out the latest Hollywood Gold Cup odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Yu's picks for the Hollywood Gold Cup, and find out.
| Prg # | Horse | Odds | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | There Goes Harvard | 8-1 | See Picks Here |
| 2 | Royal Ship | 6-5 | See Picks Here |
| 3 | Spielberg | 20-1 | See Picks Here |
| 4 | Defunded | 3-1 | See Picks Here |
| 5 | Stilleto Boy | 7-5 | See Picks Here |
