Goldencents geared up for BC Dirt Mile (G1)
October 29, 2013
Into Mischief’s Goldencents will try to duplicate his Santa Anita Derby (G1) effort when he takes to the southern California track once again on Friday in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
The 3-year-old trained by Doug O’Neill didn’t get any breaks at the draw when he was assigned to post 12, the far outside in the full gate.
“That probably wouldn’t have been among the top five choices for us,” O’Neill joked after the draw. “But we’re outside of Verrazano, who looks like the speed of the race, and hopefully we can break clean and follow in right behind him.
“The most important thing is Goldencents continues to train well and Rafael Bejarano is on him for the second time. That’s a huge plus for us.”
After a pair of rough races in the Triple Crown, O’Neill freshened the stable star. He has come back strong, with three runner-up finishes, all in either Grade 1 or 2 company at shorter distances than the Mile.
Since his half-length defeat in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship on Oct. 5, Goldencents has worked spectacularly, highlighted by a bullet five furlong move in 58 2/5 seconds on Oct. 25.
The Dirt Mile is race 8 on Friday, with a scheduled post of 6:05 pm ET.