Forged Steel puts Goodwood rivals to the sword; Atitlan romps in John Henry

Unplaced twice since his breakthrough in the May 25 Hollywood Gold Cup (G2), Forged Steel relished a return to Santa Anita to spring a $27.60 upset of Saturday’s Goodwood (G1). The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee made the decisive move on the far turn and held sway over stablemate Caldera in this “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). 

Forged Steel was not an individual interest in this weekend’s Pool 2 of the Breeders’ Cup Classic Future Wager. Prospective backers can use the “All other starters” mutuel field until betting closes Sunday at 6 p.m. ET.

Defending Goodwood champion Nevada Beach, the 6-5 favorite, churned on for third off the layoff. The Bob Baffert pupil, who is available as an individual Pool 2 interest, ran as if he could move forward off this tightener.

Forged Steel was let go at 12.80-1 following double-digit losses in the Suburban H. (G2) at Saratoga and the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar. Joseph’s other entrant, the streaking Caldera, attracted more betting interest as the 5-2 second choice. 

Caldera’s popularity is likely explicable by his wide ownership interest through MyRacehorse, but he had shown talent briefly on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for the late Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas. Since joining Joseph this term, Caldera was a perfect 3-for-3 in allowance company and poised for a class hike. 

Forged Steel got the jump on his in-form stablemate here. Breaking alertly with Edwin Gonzalez, the Vekoma colt let the aggressive Taif go forward on the rail, but kept close watch in second. Taif carved out splits of :22.97 and :47.32 before calling it a day.

When Taif suddenly gave way, Gonzalez gave Forged Steel the signal. The gray responded to poach an advantage by the six-furlong mark in 1:11.20, and he could not be caught down the lane.

Forged Steel had 1 1/4 lengths to spare over fellow gray Caldera. By completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.48, he handed Gonzalez his first Grade 1 on the North American mainland. The rider had won at the top level in his native Puerto Rico. 

“I talked to Saffie before the race, and he called me and didn’t give me much instruction,” Gonzalez said. “He said to just see where you are at after the start. If they let me, go to the lead. 

“When I passed the three-eighths (pole), I passed the leader and was waiting for the horses to come from behind while giving him a little breather. When I turned for home and when I asked him, it was one ask, and he kept going.”

Nevada Beach, who appeared bound for fourth entering the stretch, kept on dourly to overtake Mr. A. P. for third. Jockey Juan Hernandez was pleased, considering that the stout colt was last seen finishing 12th behind Forever Young and Nysos in the Feb. 14 Saudi Cup (G1). 

“He hadn’t been out in a long time,” Hernandez said. “I think that was a really good effort in a very tough field. At the three-eighths pole, we were trying to get going. He’s a very big horse, and it takes him a little time to get going. I saw the horse on the lead (Forged Steel) take off, so I knew it was go time. I still feel it was a big effort off the layoff. We will be ready next time.”

The top four pulled well clear of the rest. Original Sin closed mildly for fifth, trailed by Midnight Mammoth, Taif, and the eased pair of Vodka Vodka and McAfee. Both of them walked off, according to the chart.

Campaigned by C2 Racing Stable (which also co-owned 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic hero White Abarrio), Mathis Stables, and TCC Stables, Forged Steel has bankrolled $616,630 from a 21-6-3-3 line. His initial stakes placings came on turf in the 2025 Cutler Bay S. and English Channel S. at Gulfstream Park, but he snared third when reverting to the main track in the Carry Back S. The four-year-old also placed third in the March 28 Temperence Hill S. at Oaklawn Park. 

Forged Steel was bred by Richard E. Wilson in Kentucky and most recently sold for $190,000 as an OBS March juvenile. Out of the Tale of the Cat mare Scorecard, he descends from Canadian classic winner Hangin on a Star, who is also the ancestress of Canadian champion Irish Mission. 

John Henry Turf Championship (G2)

Also on Goodwood Day, John M. B. O’Connor’s Atitlan lorded it over his rivals in the $201,500 John Henry Turf Championship (G2). The 9-10 favorite was peaking third off the layoff for Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, after a warm-up fourth in the July 19 Wickerr S. and a near-miss in the Del Mar H. (G2). 

Previously in the care of the late John Shirreffs, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer, Atitlan had been nurtured in trademark fashion into an elite performer. Mandella credited his colleague for his handiwork. 

“He has been a piece of cake. John Shirreffs did the groundwork and created a good horse,” Mandella pointed out. “I just got to polish the apple, that is all.”

The John Henry was a piece of cake for Atitlan. Under confident handling by Umberto Rispoli, who earlier guided Sorrento Sky to a popular victory in the Eddie D (G2), the son of The Factor bided his time off the contentious pace. When the stalking Flashiest made his bid for glory on the final turn, Atitlan covered his move and shot 2 1/4 lengths clear.

Atitlan’s time of 1:58.35 for 1 1/4 miles on the firm course reflects the fast fractions courtesy of Balladeer, who blitzed in :22.58, :46.40, and 1:10.93.

Flashiest saved second by a half-length from the rallying Mondego. Next came Atomic Age, Nitti, Twirling Point, and the spent pace factors, Balladeer and hard-pulling Brazilian Sinsel. 

Atitlan’s fourth graded stakes victory improved his resume to 15-5-1-4, $648,000. As a sophomore in 2024, the bay captured the Twilight Derby (G2) and placed in the Mathis Mile (G2), Del Mar Derby (G2), and La Jolla H. Atitlan excelled when stepping up in distance at four, landing the San Luis Rey (G3) and Charles Whittingham (G2) before a close third in the Del Mar ‘Cap in 2025. He resurfaced for Mandella at the seaside track this summer, and Rispoli discerned progress in the John Henry.

“This was my second time riding him, and I had a very sweet trip,” Rispoli said. “There was a lot of pace in the race. The horse found his spot and had a smooth trip. He secured an ideal position. Once I hit the final turn, I knew he was dragging me up there. He had such a nice turn of foot to win the race in a very easy way.

“Once he gets the lead, he can lose his focus a little bit. That’s what he did there actually right after the wire. He was looking for friends, but he’s always been a little bit of a character. He’s getting better now, and it was a special win.”

Atitlan gets his stamina from his dam, the German import Armanda. The Acatenango mare is also responsible for multiple Grade 2 scorer Astronaut, who was likewise bred in Kentucky by Anastasie Astrid Christiansen-Croy and campaigned by O’Connor. 

John C. Harris (G3)

Donald R. Dizney’s homebred Little Opal rounded out the stakes action by remaining unbeaten in the $102,000 John C. Harris (G3) on the downhill turf.

Trained by Doug O’Neill and piloted by Emisael Jaramillo, the 6-5 favorite went wire to wire in a gutsy 1 1/4-length decision. Little Opal might have had a whiff of vulnerability turning into the stretch, but she found plenty to remain in command at the end of about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:12.76.

Day to Day, Mo’ Em Down, and Surfin’ U S A rounded out the superfecta in the nine-filly field.  

Little Opal is now 3-for-3 with $156,600 in earnings. The Kentucky-bred was making her stakes debut after maiden and allowance wins, dashing five furlongs on the Del Mar turf. 

By Caravaggio and out of the Elusive Quality mare Il Mulino, Little Opal hails from the immediate family of recent John C. Mabee (G2) winner Medoro. Further back, one finds 2005 Kentucky Derby (G1) shocker Giacomo, his multiple Grade 1-winning half-brother Tiago, and their Grade 3-winning half-sister Stanwyck – all contributing to the legacy of Shirreffs.