Goldencents Turns in Key BC Dirt Mile Work
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W. C. Racing's 2013 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I) winner Goldencents breezed five furlongs in :59 flat Oct. 17 in preparation for a title defense at Santa Anita Park, his key work as he looks to become the first two-time Dirt Mile winner in the race's seven-year history.
The 4-year-old son of Into Mischief turned in fractional times of :23 4/5, :36, and :47 4/5 under regular rider Rafael Bejarano, with a six-furlong gallop-out in 1:11 2/5. The move was third-fastest of 48 at the distance on the day.
There's been a change in the trainer of record for Goldencents, but not much altered in the conditioning regimen of the colt, who was a narrow second to Rich Tapestry in the Oct. 4 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (gr. I). Goldencents is to start in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Mile for Leandro Mora, who is filling in for suspended boss Doug O'Neill.
"The training is still the same, because when I started working for Doug...the style was established back then, and that's what we and the horses are used to, so the training definitely hasn't changed," said Mora, who has been O'Neill's assistant for 13 years.
Prior to that, Mora spent 13 years with the late Brian Mayberry, and two with trainer Tim Pinfield before joining Team O'Neill. Pinfield won the 2000 Golden Shaheen (UAE-I) with crack sprinter Big Jag.
"The owners were happy with me knowing that I understand how to handle Goldencents," Mora said. "When he broke his maiden, I was training him, so they are comfortable with me training Goldencents now. The horse is doing excellent."
Mora said Goldencents will mostly be on cruise control leading up to his Breeders' Cup bid.
"I'm very happy with the work," he said. "You don't worry when he works because he does it so easy. You just press the button and let him be himself. He'll have one lighter work six or seven days before the Breeders' Cup and that'll be it. This was the key work."