Forged Steel becomes first Grade 1 winner for Vekoma
September 26, 2026
With his gallant victory in Saturday’s Goodwood S. (G1) at Santa Anita Park, Forged Steel earned himself an automatic berth into next month’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), as well as becoming the first Grade 1 winner for Vekoma.
With over $11.5 million in progeny earnings to date in 2026, Vekoma leads the Third-Crop sire list and is in the top 10 on the General list.
Forged Steel, winner of the July 4th Hollywood Gold Cup (G2) for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., showed good speed early and tracked longshot Taif through the first half-mile. Going into the far turn, Forged Steel surged to the lead and quickly opened up a two-length advantage. Caldera and Mr. A. P. were his closest pursuers on the turn, but he kept both of them at bay the rest of the trip, winning by 1 ¼-lengths over stablemate Caldera.
“I talked to Saffie before the race and he called me and didn’t give me much instruction,” winning rider Edwin 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.”
Owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC, Mathis Stables LLC and TCC Stables LLC, Forged Steel is 6-3-3 in 21 starts and has earned $616,630. The gray/roan 4-year-old was bred in Kentucky by Richard E. Wilson and sold to his owners for $190,000 at the 2024 OBS March 2-year-old sale.