On January 17, 2026, Forged Steel kicked off the new year with an eighth-place finish in a Tampa Bay Downs optional claimer, seemingly heralding another uninspired season at age 4. While better than an empty stall at 2 and 3, the colt had won only twice and had placed in three minor stakes at Gulfstream Park. But on May 25, 2026, something clicked in Forged Steel. Grabbing an easy lead in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita (USA-G2), he never looked back and sailed home 9½ lengths in front in the 10-furlong race. He could not duplicate those performances in the Suburban Stakes (USA-G2) or Pacific Classic (USA-G1) after failing to secure a forward position early, but on September 26, he was able to prompt Taif through the early going of the Goodwood Stakes (USA-G1) and had command going into he far turn. Kept to his work by Edwin Gonzalez, he stayed in front throughout the stretch to secure his first Grade 1 win and a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) by 1¼ lengths.
The first Grade 1 winner out of 27 stakes winners for Candy Ride’s speedball son Vekoma, Forged Steel represents the family of 1980 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Hangin Round. A daughter of 1968 American co-champion 3-year-old male Stage Door Johnny out of a mare by two-time English champion sire Aureole (by Hyperion), Hangin Round could not earn a single dollar in five tries on the racetrack, but she more than made up for that in the paddocks. She produced four stakes winners, and both of her stakes-winning daughters bred on with champions among their descendants.
Rainbow Connection (by two-time American champion sire Halo), the elder of those daughters, was the champion Canadian filly of her crop at 2 and 3, won the 1980 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) and was twice runner-up in Grade 1 races. She continued her history of excellence as a broodmare, earning a Sovereign Award as Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1994. Her three stakes winners included Rainbows for Life (by Lyphard), a three-time Canadian champion and a highly successful sire in Eastern Europe, and Colour Chart (by Mr. Prospector), winner of the 1990 CIGA Prix de l’Opera (FR-G2). Colour Chart, in turn, produced 2001 American champion 2-year-old filly Tempera (by A.P. Indy), who proved a sad loss to her breed when she died while in training as a 3-year-old.
Colour Chart also produced multiple French Group 3 winner Equerry (by St. Jovite) and French listed stakes winner Ecole d’Art (by Theatrical), is the second dam of 2010 Saudi Arabian champion older female Caprivi (by Cape Cross), and is the third dam of 2025 Pebbles Stakes (USA-G3) winner Fast Market (by Volatile). As if that were not enough, Colour Chart’s full brother, Always a Rainbow, won the 1994 Cup and Saucer Stakes before being sent to India for stallion duty. In addition, Barari, an unraced Blushing Groom half sister to Rainbows for Life, Colour Chart, and Always a Rainbow, produced multiple Grade 1 winner White Heart (by Green Desert) and listed stakes winner Kind Regards (by Unfuwain).
Hangin Round’s other important daughter is Hangin on a Star, a Vice Regent filly who took the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes, from the colts. She is the dam of 1993 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Comet Shine (by Fappiano) and of Misty Mission (by Miswaki), who won the 2000 Wonder Where Stakes (third leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara series for 3-year-old fillies). Misty Mission, in turn, is the dam of two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission (by Giant’s Causeway), 2008 Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (USA-G3) winner French Beret (by Broad Brush), and stakes winner Mythical Mission (by Giant’s Causeway) as well as Smart Mission (by Smart Strike), dam of 2025 Rodeo Drive Stakes (USA-G2) winner Mission of Joy (by Kitten’s Joy).
Returning to Hangin on a Star, she is also the dam of Starboard Tack (by Seattle Slew), dam of 1999 Derby Trial Stakes (USA-G3) winner Patience Game (by Woodman) and second dam of 2025 Franklin Stakes (USA-G2) winner Time to Dazzle (by Not This Time). And, at the age of 20, Hangin Round produced Sanibel Star (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of 2012 Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Star Contender (by Henny Hughes) and, through her Tale of the Cat daughter Scorecard, second dam of Forged Steel.
Even if Forged Steel starts in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he would probably need to crank his best game up a couple more notches to be competitive, as he is unlikely to get either an easy lead or a five-horse field in American racing’s biggest showcase. Still, a Grade 1 win is no small accomplishment, and if he continues improving, he will be one more demonstration of why this family keeps hangin’ round.
The first Grade 1 winner out of 27 stakes winners for Candy Ride’s speedball son Vekoma, Forged Steel represents the family of 1980 Canadian Broodmare of the Year Hangin Round. A daughter of 1968 American co-champion 3-year-old male Stage Door Johnny out of a mare by two-time English champion sire Aureole (by Hyperion), Hangin Round could not earn a single dollar in five tries on the racetrack, but she more than made up for that in the paddocks. She produced four stakes winners, and both of her stakes-winning daughters bred on with champions among their descendants.
Rainbow Connection (by two-time American champion sire Halo), the elder of those daughters, was the champion Canadian filly of her crop at 2 and 3, won the 1980 Demoiselle Stakes (USA-G2) and was twice runner-up in Grade 1 races. She continued her history of excellence as a broodmare, earning a Sovereign Award as Canadian Broodmare of the Year in 1994. Her three stakes winners included Rainbows for Life (by Lyphard), a three-time Canadian champion and a highly successful sire in Eastern Europe, and Colour Chart (by Mr. Prospector), winner of the 1990 CIGA Prix de l’Opera (FR-G2). Colour Chart, in turn, produced 2001 American champion 2-year-old filly Tempera (by A.P. Indy), who proved a sad loss to her breed when she died while in training as a 3-year-old.
Colour Chart also produced multiple French Group 3 winner Equerry (by St. Jovite) and French listed stakes winner Ecole d’Art (by Theatrical), is the second dam of 2010 Saudi Arabian champion older female Caprivi (by Cape Cross), and is the third dam of 2025 Pebbles Stakes (USA-G3) winner Fast Market (by Volatile). As if that were not enough, Colour Chart’s full brother, Always a Rainbow, won the 1994 Cup and Saucer Stakes before being sent to India for stallion duty. In addition, Barari, an unraced Blushing Groom half sister to Rainbows for Life, Colour Chart, and Always a Rainbow, produced multiple Grade 1 winner White Heart (by Green Desert) and listed stakes winner Kind Regards (by Unfuwain).
Hangin Round’s other important daughter is Hangin on a Star, a Vice Regent filly who took the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes, from the colts. She is the dam of 1993 Canadian champion 2-year-old male Comet Shine (by Fappiano) and of Misty Mission (by Miswaki), who won the 2000 Wonder Where Stakes (third leg of Canada’s Triple Tiara series for 3-year-old fillies). Misty Mission, in turn, is the dam of two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission (by Giant’s Causeway), 2008 Colonel E. R. Bradley Handicap (USA-G3) winner French Beret (by Broad Brush), and stakes winner Mythical Mission (by Giant’s Causeway) as well as Smart Mission (by Smart Strike), dam of 2025 Rodeo Drive Stakes (USA-G2) winner Mission of Joy (by Kitten’s Joy).
Returning to Hangin on a Star, she is also the dam of Starboard Tack (by Seattle Slew), dam of 1999 Derby Trial Stakes (USA-G3) winner Patience Game (by Woodman) and second dam of 2025 Franklin Stakes (USA-G2) winner Time to Dazzle (by Not This Time). And, at the age of 20, Hangin Round produced Sanibel Star (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of 2012 Cup and Saucer Stakes winner Star Contender (by Henny Hughes) and, through her Tale of the Cat daughter Scorecard, second dam of Forged Steel.
Even if Forged Steel starts in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, he would probably need to crank his best game up a couple more notches to be competitive, as he is unlikely to get either an easy lead or a five-horse field in American racing’s biggest showcase. Still, a Grade 1 win is no small accomplishment, and if he continues improving, he will be one more demonstration of why this family keeps hangin’ round.
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