Godolphin to enter two in Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. - Godolphin Racing's Regal Ransom and Girolamo will both be entered to run in Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita and not the $1 million Dirt Mile, it was announced Monday. Godolphin will still be represented in the Dirt Mile by Pyro and Midshipman.

According to Rick Mettee, the North American-based assistant for Godolphin, both Regal Ransom and Girolamo trained satisfactorily over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride surface to warrant taking a shot in the $5 million race.

"We couldn't eliminate either one based on works," Mettee said. "The intention with both of them is if they run well in this race you could justify taking them over to Meydan and point for the Dubai World Cup."

Meydan, the new track in Dubai, will utilize the synthetic Tapeta surface, whereas the old track, Nad Al Sheba, had regular dirt.

Regal Ransom, who enters the Classic off a victory in the Grade 2 Super Derby, finished eighth in last year's Grade 1 Norfolk here. But it was only the second start of his career. He has twice won at 1 1/8 miles and finished eighth of 19 in the Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles.

Girolamo has never raced on a synthetic surface or beyond one mile. He is 3 for 3 this year and enters the race off a victory in the Grade 2 Jerome, a one-turn mile race at Belmont Park.

"Girolamo has a lot to overcome," Mettee said. "Two turns, synthetic, and a mile and a quarter for the first time."

Richard Migliore will ride Regal Ransom while Alan Garcia will be aboard Girolamo in the Classic, Mettee said.