Some Breeders' Cup thoughts

Lost in all the hubbub of the Breeders' Cup Classic controversy was the game performance of an underappreciated warrior.

If you could get a bet down turning for home in the Dirt Mile, TAPITURE was your horse. He had bided his time behind a scorching pace, and was seemingly going two strides to every one of pacesetter, and defending champion, GOLDENCENTS. Certainly, he would wear down the exhausted chalk in the last two furlongs.

Yet Tapiture failed to close the final gap. Goldencents was simply too tough.

Digging in despite drifting out, Goldencents kept Tapiture at bay. The 3-year-old couldn't even pass the favorite during the gallop-out.

It was yet another top effort for 4-year-old Goldencents, who retires to Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky with a record of 18-7-7-0, earnings of $3,044,000, and eight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures.

Rafael Bejarano rode a brilliant race aboard Goldencents. Realizing that Goldencents is at his best when allowed to control the tempo, Bejarano pushed his mount hard from the gate to counteract the aggressive riding tactics of John Velazquez on VICAR'S IN TROUBLE.

The two speedsters scorched the opening quarter in 22.06 and passed the half in 44.80 with Goldencents inside of his main pace rival. Vicar's in Trouble dropped back precipitously entering the final turn (it was later discovered that Vicar's In Trouble had fractured an ankle. The colt had successful surgery and is expected back in training after six months off), and Goldencents stepped six furlongs in 1:09.27 with Tapiture moving from midpack.

Goldencents began to tire from his early work. He drifted out in upper stretch, but Bejarano made sure to straighten him when it appeared Goldencents would veer off course. Once, twice, three times did Goldencents lug out. Three times did Bejarano muscle him back on stride. A lesser rider might have allowed Goldencents to interfere with Tapiture's lane, but Bejarano had total control. From the eighth pole to the wire, Goldencents' class prevailed. He completed the distance in 1:35.16 and received a 107 Beyer.

Goldencents will be remembered best as a two-time Dirt Mile winner, but let's not forget the entire excellent body of work. A debut winner over the Del Mar polytrack at two, Goldencents shipped across the country for his second lifetime race, the Grade 1 Champagne. Although no match for next-out Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby, Goldencents acquitted himself well to be second. In his final juvenile outing, he captured the rich Delta Jackpot going 1 1/16 miles.

Although Goldencents flopped in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness at three, he prepped for those races brilliantly with wins in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. He ran 10 times as a sophomore, yet still had enough in the tank to beat elders in the Dirt Mile toward the end of the year.

Goldencents had a late start to his 4-year-old campaign, but his connections had no problem throwing him into the deep end in his first race of 2014, the prestigious Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont. Goldencents ran a corker against the sharp Palace Malice before dropping the decision by a length.
Goldencents boasts a strong record, but a head-bob here and there could have enhanced his form even more. He was beaten a length or less in six races.

He prevailed at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, succeeded on dirt and polytrack, and his speed makes him an intriguing stallion prospect.