Clocker: Goldencents shows he's sitting on ready

ARCADIA, Calif. – A handful of Breeders’ Cup workers, topped by defending Dirt Mile champ Goldencents and Classic contender Moreno, spiced up Friday’s training session at Santa Anita.

The main track seems to have quickened as the week has progressed. In fact, it also seemed to quicken as the morning progressed, becoming tighter after the second and third breaks than it had been earlier in the day.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP WORKOUTS: Video analysis, news, and times

Work of the day

GOLDENCENTS (five furlongs in 59.26) – He looked terrific while working just as impressively as he had a week prior to his victory in the 2013 Dirt Mile. With Rafael Bejarano aboard, Goldencents broke off at the four-furlong marker and quickly settled into a nice, fluid pace. He completed his opening quarter-mile in 23.41 seconds, then all but matched that split to the wire, completing his opening half in 46.88 with his rider like a statue in the irons.

Goldencents then continued on strongly without prodding around the bend, completing his drill on the point of the clubhouse turn at the seven-furlong pole before galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.88 and pulling up seven-eighths in 1:25.55. Anyone looking for a single on the first day of the two-day Breeders’ Cup may have found it in Goldencents.[bc_video_id:340128:]

MORENO (six furlongs in 1:12.38) – Moreno broke off in company at the six-furlong pole but found himself breezing solo for the final half-mile of the work after his overmatched stablemate struggled to keep pace. With Tyler Baze up and the horse equipped in blinkers, Moreno zipped his opening quarter in 23.14 and was already five or six lengths clear of his partner after posting a 34.89-second three-eighths split. A Classic contender, Moreno hit the top of the stretch after a half-mile in 46.82, then appeared to get a little weary coming to the wire, with Baze tapping him several times on the right shoulder with his stick from the three-sixteenths pole to keep his interest.

Moreno did maintain a straight course approaching the finish line and beyond, something he did not always do in his works this summer at Saratoga. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26.05 in a work that wasn’t nearly as impressive as his final prep before his 10th-place finish in the 2013 Classic.

BIG BANE THEORY (five furlongs in 59.69) – This was another drill that seemingly did not go quite as planned. Big Bane Theory was rank entering the backstretch under jockey Joe Talamo and wound up breaking off at the five-furlong pole outside two workmates from trainer Carla Gaines’s barn rather than behind them, which seemed to be the intent. Talamo did a good job to finally ease his eager mount back off his targets to take some dirt around the turn before tipping him three wide entering the stretch. Big Bane Theory asserted his class at that point, finishing well without much encouragement and surging past his two tiring mates inside the sixteenth pole before increasing his advantage with a solid gallop-out, six furlongs in 1:12.56.

Although he’s never raced on dirt, the improving Grade 2 winner did seem to handle the surface well. But he’ll have to relax a lot better than he did this morning if he’s to pose any threat to Goldencents in the Dirt Mile.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP: Pre-entries, comments, and odds

MAJESTIC PRESENCE (six furlongs in 1:12.60, according to track clockers) – Picked up this work on the turn, with the Juvenile Fillies hopeful working outside company and drawing 2 1/2 lengths clear despite appearing to get a little tired approaching the line. She then eased up fairly quickly into the turn and was passed by her workmate during the latter stages of her gallop-out.

CONQUEST ECLIPSE (four furlongs in 49.44) – She was the first of the morning’s Breeders’ Cup workers, and this was nothing more than a half-mile maintenance breeze. She traveled easily throughout but with not of a gallop-out.

Midnight Lucky, who was the likely favorite for the Filly and Mare Turf Sprint, breezed shortly after the second renovation break, tiring slightly to the wire after six furlongs in 1:12.04. She did not responded much to urging once she passed the finish line and eased up seven-eighths in 1:25.22. Although this was the bullet move on the official tab, it was certainly not up to her usual lofty work standards, and she was withdrawn from the race by trainer Bob Baffert, who said she would be retired.

Among the gallopers leaving a favorable impression Friday was Classic contender Prayer for Relief, who had a strong, stamina-enhancing session for trainer Dale Romans. Mico Margarita, who appears to be a real sleeper in the Sprint, drew a second look while galloping in draw reins but with blinkers on.