Goldencents runs ragged in Dirt Mile

Needing to be sent in order to overcome post 11 in Friday's Grade 1, $920,000

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, Goldencents did just that and conveniently

benefited from a speed-friendly main track at Santa Anita.

Ensuring he was always ahead of fellow speedster Broadway Empire, jockey

Rafael Bejarano guided Goldencents through extremely fast splits of :22 and :44

3/5. The three-year-old began to edge away from that rival around the far turn,

opening up a two-length lead through six furlongs in 1:08 3/5.

Vulnerable to being overtaken on a normal-playing track, Goldencents was not

going to be caught this day. Scooting away to lead by five lengths in

mid-stretch, the Doug O'Neill trainee easily held off a late run from Golden

Ticket to win by 2 3/4 lengths in a time of 1:35. The 7-2 second choice, he paid

$9.60, $5 and $4.

"I wasn't worried at all (about the fast fractions) because I know how good

this horse has trained," Bejarano said. "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."

Golden Ticket was 3 1/2 lengths clear of Brujo de Olleros, who had 1 1/2

lengths on 5-2 favorite Verrazano. Completing the order of finish were Hymn

Book, Fed Biz, Pants On Fire, Alpha, Broadway Empire, and Holy Lute.

Centralinteligence was eased during the running after sustaining a condylar

fracture, while Taptowne was a raceday

scratch after bruising a foot.

Goldencents races for a partnership that includes W. C. Racing, Dave Kenney

and Rick Pitinio, head coach of the University of Louisville basketball team.

Winner of the Delta Downs Jackpot and runner-up in the Champagne at two,

Goldencents won two of three starts preceding this year's classics, taking the

Santa Anita Derby and the Sham. Unplaced in both the Kentucky Derby and

Preakness, the Into Mischief colt reverted to sprinting in his next three

starts, finishing second in the Bing Crosby, Pat O'Brien and Santa Anita Sprint

Championship. This second top-level score boosted his career earnings to $2,360,000

from a line of 12-5-4-0.