Goldencents Speeds to Dirt Mile Victory
Goldencents, seen capturing the first of his two BC Dirt Mile wins in 2013
Goldencents outran his competitors to the first turn and never looked back, winning the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile by 2 3/4 lengths for his second career Grade 1 victory at Santa Anita Park, having earlier taken the Santa Anita Derby on the road to the 2013 Triple Crown.
With a dirt track favoring speed, it was obvious that jockey Rafael Bejarano wanted to be on the front end, and he quickly gained the advantage despite breaking from the outside post in the relatively short run to the first turn.
The son of Spendthrift Farm stallion Into Mischief controlled the pace with fast fractions of : 22.12, 44.75, and 1:08.64 for the opening six furlongs. He drifted out coming down the stretch, but won comfortably while never seriously challenged. Golden Ticket closed to be second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Brujo de Olleros in third, with favorite Verrazano fourth, another 1 1/2 lengths back.
Goldencents, winning for the fifth time in 12 career starts and for the first time since the Santa Anita Derby, completed the mile on a fast dirt track in 1:35.12 (a final quarter mile of 26.48 seconds).
Centralintelligence was pulled up shortly past the finish and was vanned off. It was reported by AAEP On-Call veterinarian Dr. Wayne McIlwraith that the Smarty Jones gelding had fractured the lower portion of his cannon bone near the fetlock joint.
Goldencents is trained by Doug O'Neil for a partnership that includes University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, Dave Kenney, and Glenn Sorgenstein. In a post-race press conference, Sorgenstein took time to remember someone who is no longer here. "My dad brought me into horse racing...Sal Sorgenstein, he's up there in heaven," Sorgenstein said. "He left us a year ago November 3rd, and Dad, I love you. I sent you a Facebook message; I hope you read it."
Bred in Kentucky by Karyn Pirrello and Chuck and Lyra Miller's Rosecrest Farm of Paris, Ky., Goldencents was a $5,500 yearling purchase by Webb Carroll at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Sale. He was consigned by Pope McLean, agent.
Doug O'Neill's brother, Dennis, purchased Goldencents as a 2-year-old for $62,000 at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's June sale from Southern Chase Farm, agent.
The win was the fourth in a Breeders' Cup race for O'Neill but the first since 2006. It was also the fourth for Bejarano
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As for Goldencents, he was a top 2-year-old, finishing second to Shanghai Bobby in the G1 Champagne and winning the G3 Delta Jackpot. He won the G3 Sham, finished fourth in the G2 San Felipe, then scored a mild upset in the Santa Anita Derby. A 17th-place finish behind Orb on a sloppy track in the Santa Anita Derby and a fifth in the Preakness prompted O'Neill and Goldencents' owners to regroup, putting him in shorter races against older horses. He was an unlucky second in the G1 Bing Crosby going six furlongs, then second again in the G2 Pat O'Brien (both at Del Mar). After finishing second in the G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, O'Neill decided to stretch Goldencents back out to two turns, pointing him for the Dirt Mile.
It was a decision that paid off.
Verrazano, who was an early favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, ran his last race. He goes to Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, but Goldencents will continue to race. "I know Glenn and the boys are in no hurry to rush him off to any stallion career, so that's music to any trainer's ears," said O'Neill. "So hopefully we've got another year or more in him."
Post-race quotes
Rafael Bejarano (jockey, Goldencents, 1st) – “I wasn’t worried at all (about the fast fractions) because I know how good this horse has trained. He broke so good from the gate, but the six horse (Broadway Empire) wanted to go the lead and put pressure on me. I made sure (my horse) got clear and then at the three-eighths pole, I knew what he would do.”
Doug O’ Neill (trainer, Goldencents, 1st) – “My only doubt was when they went a half in 44-and-change. But Raffi (jockey Bejarano) knew he was on the best horse and he rode him the easiest way to get in the winner’s circle. What a horse. We were really confident, but you never know.”
Joel Rosario (jockey, Golden Ticket, 2nd) – “I had a very good trip. I thought for a second the horse in front (Goldencents) was slowing down, but he just kept going. My horse ran real good, but he was just second best today.”
Ken McPeek (trainer, Golden Ticket, 2nd) – “He (jockey Joel Rosario) rode a good race and my horse ran a good race but like Ricky Bobby said ‘If you ain’t first, you’re last.’ No I’m just kidding. My horse ran great and I’m really proud of him.”
Alan Garcia (jockey, Brujo de Olleros, 3rd) – “Had a great trip and this horse was loaded all the way around. He ran a lot better for me today than he did in the Kelso the last time. Golden Ticket went by me at the half-mile pole and I just followed him, He ran hard all the way.”
John Velazquez (jockey, Verrazano, beaten favorite finished 4th) – “He got a horrible trip into the first turn and got banged around pretty good. He lost all chance.”
Todd Pletcher (trainer, Verrazano, 4th) – “It was just one of those things. This track is so speed favoring and everyone is just send, send, send. It changes everything.”
