O'Neill sends out BC hopefuls to work at Santa Anita

It's every trainer's dream to win the Kentucky Derby, and

Doug O'Neill fulfilled that fantasy when he saddled I'll Have Another to win the

Run for the Roses in 2012. The beat goes on, but with the Breeders' Cup drawing

ever closer at Santa Anita next Friday and Saturday, O'Neill and his team are

focused on their candidates for the championship events, which O'Neill equates

to the Super Bowl.

"The Breeders' Cup is a huge day for all of us in the

business," O'Neill said. "There's only one Kentucky Derby, but the great thing

about the Breeders' Cup is there are more opportunities. A horse gets only one

chance to run in the Derby and only 20 horses a year at most have a chance to

get into the starting gate.

"The Breeders' Cup is much more spread out and your chances

are greater to hit one out of the park. It's the Super Bowl and we're pumped up

with some live chances."

Among O'Neill's Breeders' Cup workers Friday was Santa

Anita Derby winner Goldencents, who blazed five furlongs in a bullet :58 2/5 on

Santa Anita's fast main track furlongs for the Dirt Mile under Rafael Bejarano.

"Goldencents actually ran into some (unexpected) company,"

O'Neill said of the Into Mischief colt, who was runner-up in the Santa Anita

Sprint Championship most recently. "He was trying to go by himself but some company was in front of

him and he caught them. He went a little quicker than we wanted, but he did it

real easy and he's spot-on, ready to go."

FrontRunner winner Bond Holder also worked five furlongs,

going in 1:03 4/5 for the Juvenile.

"He's a solid horse," O'Neill said. "The first eighth of a

work's going to make the final time, and they were just cruising early. He

finished up good and galloped out strong and he's ready to go."

Other O'Neill workers included Renee's Titan, Concave and Clenor.

Grade 2 diva Renee's Titan, sixth against optional claiming rivals off a

five-month break last out, worked five-eighths in 1:00 1/5 for the Filly & Mare

Sprint on Santa Anita's dirt. Sorrento vixen Concave, third in the Del Mar

Debutante most recently, sped five furlongs in :59 2/5 in advance of the

Juvenile Fillies.

Group 3-placed Clenor, winner of the Oak Tree Juvenile

Fillies Turf and Surfer Girl in her past pair, clocked a half-mile in :48

2/5 on Santa Anita's firm turf in advance of the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

O'Neill also sent out Breeders' Futurity fourth-placer Rum Point,

scheduled to start in the Juvenile, to sizzle five furlongs in :59 4/5. Grade 2 hero Handsome Mike, last of 10 in the Shadwell

Turf Mile most recently, was caught in :47 2/5 for four furlongs on Santa

Anita's turf for the trainer. The four-year-old son of Scat Daddy is third on the waiting list to get into

the Turf Sprint.

Defending Turf Sprint winner Mizdirection logged five grassy furlongs in :57

4/5 for Mike Puype.

"We're very happy with her," Puype said of Mizdirection, who's owned

in-part by Jim Rome's Jungle Racing. "She's ready to go."

Mizdirection was unbeaten in three starts earlier this year before finishing

fifth in the Just a Game when last seen in June at Belmont Park.

Oak Tree Juvenile Turf scorer Diamond Bachelor, who has first preference for

the Juvenile and second for the Juvenile Turf, got five panels in 1:00 3/5 on

the main track for Patrick Biancone. The dark bay just missed in the Zuma Beach

earlier this month.

To accommodate all Breeders' Cup horses stabled at

Santa Anita, beginning Saturday they will have access to the main track for

their workouts and exercise five minutes before other horses begin their daily

regimen

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