Full of Luck, a multiple stakes winner in Chile in 2016 and 2017, will have his American Grade 1 debut in Saturday's $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita at 1 1-4 miles on the main track, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Friday.

Full of Luck was also entered for Saturday's Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1-4 miles on turf. Hollendorfer and the partnership that owns Full of Luck faced a deadline at 10 a.m. on Friday on which race to select. 

"There are not that many opportunities for a dirt race at a mile and a quarter at this time of year," Hollendorfer said in explaining the decision. "If we can compete with these horses, there is a huge race in the summer in the Pacific Classic."

The $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1-4 miles on dirt will be run on Aug. 18.

Full of Luck is winless in two starts in this country, including a fourth in the Grade 2 Californian Stakes at 1 1-8 miles on dirt on April 28 behind Dr. Dorr, a leading contender in the Gold Cup. Full of LUck worked six furlongs in 1:11.80 last Sunday at Santa Anita. Flavien Prat has the mount.

"We have what we feel is an improving horse that worked well on the dirt last Sunday," Hollendorfer said. "We think we have a few things going in our favor. Plus, we get to keep our rider."