Golden Mile winner Lord Bullingdon has leading role in Cecil B. DeMille Stakes

After dreadful trips in one-mile turf races in September and October, Lord Bullingdon had better luck at a pivotal time in the Qatar Golden Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 3.

Overcoming a troubled start, Lord Bullingdon closed from last of six to win by a convincing 3 3/4 lengths, the sort of performance trainer and co-owner Michael McCarthy thought he would see from the colt earlier this year.

The win in the Qatar Golden Mile is the kind of race McCarthy expects from Lord Bullingdon in Sunday’s Grade 3 Cecil B. DeMille Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf at Del Mar.

“If he repeats that race, he’s somewhere in the frame,” McCarthy said.

Lord Bullingdon, co-owned by Colbart Stables, won for the first time in his fourth start in the Golden Mile at 6-1. He will be favored in a field of nine in the DeMille Stakes.

Lord Bullingdon is the only stakes winner in the field, although five other runners have experience in stakes.

The race should have a solid pace courtesy of Invincible, as well as Miracle Mark. Invincible won a maiden race at six furlongs on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 8 and was fourth of six after setting the pace in an allowance race at Del Mar on Nov. 11. Miracle Mark led throughout a maiden race at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 29 in his debut on the surface.

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Lord Bullingdon has raced from off the pace, which has largely been caused by poor starts. He stumbled at the break in the Golden Mile, but recovered quickly under jockey Umberto Rispoli, who has the mount on Sunday.

McCarthy said Lord Bullingdon trained in a steady manner through November, recording two half-mile workouts on dirt at Santa Anita.

“He seems like he’s been in a holding pattern,” McCarthy said.

The DeMille is the stakes debut for the promising colt Deadpan, the winner of a maiden race at 1 1/16 miles on turf in his second start for trainer Mark Casse. Deadpan closed from third to beat maidens by a neck.

In all likelihood, Deadpan and Lord Bullingdon will be joined in stalking positions by Stay Hot, who was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at a mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. Stay Hot has drawn the outside in the DeMille, which may not be a burden if jockey Antonio Fresu can manage to save some ground in the opening furlongs.

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“With the post position, we’ll have to see how things unfold on the inside,” trainer Peter Eurton said.

In the BC Juvenile Turf, Stay Hot was fourth through the first half-mile and three wide on the turn before fading in the final furlong to finish 5 1/2 lengths behind the Irish-based winner Unquestionable.

“He had to use himself more in the Breeders’ Cup than hopefully he will in this race,” Eurton said. “Hopefully, he settles and gets into a good rhythm.”

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