After a Kentucky Downs double, Goliad being pointed to Breeders' Cup Mile

After two lucrative stakes wins on turf within a week at Kentucky Downs earlier this month, the 7-year-old gelding Goliad will have a quiet September before a potentially busy November at Del Mar.

Goliad won a $481,200 overnight handicap at a mile on Sept. 1 as the 4-1 second choice, and was back in the winner’s circle on Sept. 7 after a 9-1 upset in the Grade 3 Mint Millions, a one-mile race worth $1.8 million.

Goliad, trained by Richard Mandella for Ramona and Perry Bass, earned a cool $1,495,200 for the two victories.

Mandella said Goliad will be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar on Nov. 2. Another option at the Del Mar autumn meeting is the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap, a $200,000 race at 1 1/16 miles on turf Nov. 30.

Goliad will miss the Santa Anita autumn meeting that begins on Sept. 27.

“He won’t do anything at Santa Anita,” Mandella said on Wednesday. “We’ll see how good he looks, and maybe think of the Breeders’ Cup.”

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Last weekend, Mandella addressed his reason to start Goliad twice within a week, a rapid turnaround more common in the mid-20th century than in current racing. Mandella said the main reason was Goliad’s ability to handle the undulating turf course at Kentucky Downs.

“The track is tricky and if they like it you better have at it,” he said.

Goliad has won 6 of 20 starts and earned $1,758,571. A debut winner as a 2-year-old in 2019, Goliad has been raced sparingly through most of his career. This year, Goliad has had a career-high six starts, including a win in the Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita in February.

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