Kentucky-bred Forged Steel made a triumphant return to Santa Anita on Sept. 26, winning the $300,000 Goodwood Stakes (G1). The victory earned the son of Vekoma a berth in the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.
Ridden by Edwin Gonzalez and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Forged Steel took command of the field entering the far turn. He kept to task through the lane and won by 1 ¼ lengths. He covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.48.
“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, then go to the lead. When I passed the three-eighths (pole), I passed the leader and then was waiting for the other 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.”
Forged Steel back on track
A 4-year-old colt, Forged Steel is owned by C2 Racing Stable, Mathis Stables and TCC Stables. Prior to the Goodwood, he had made two starts since his win in the 1 ¼-mile Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita. Forged Steel finished fifth in the Suburban (G2) at Saratoga July and seventh in the Pacific Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Aug. 22, both at 1 ¼ miles.
“If you watch the Suburban, he stumbled but it was actually a good run,” Joseph said. “In the Pacific Classic at Del Mar, he didn’t like the flat ground, but he ran fine.”
Forged Steel improved to 21-6-3-3 with more than $600,000 in earnings. He was bred in Kentucky by Richard E. Wilson and is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Scorecard.