Goldencents, Big Macher clash in Bing Crosby
DEL MAR, Calif. – Goldencents is established at the top level, with multiple Grade 1 wins. Big Macher is the new kid in town, a former maiden claimer who has developed into a graded stakes winner and is trying Grade 1 competition for the first time.
Like the old days of the Wild West, there will be an old-fashioned shootout Sunday at Del Mar between those two – and six others trying to knock them off – in the Grade 1, $300,000 Bing Crosby Stakes.
Goldencents won the Santa Anita Derby and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile last year at age 3, but for his final campaign at age 4, his connections have decided to focus on one-turn races. He ran perhaps the best race of his life last time out, when second to the best dirt horse in the country, Palace Malice, in the Metropolitan Handicap in his first start in six months.
Now, he’s shortening back up to six furlongs, with his ultimate year-end goal the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
“After the Breeders’ Cup, he’s off to the breeding shed,” said Doug O’Neill, who trains Goldencents. “He’s obviously very good around two turns, no doubt, but we wanted to be decisive with what we do, not go back and forth, so we’re focusing on one-turn races.”
Goldencents seems to be thriving. He has filled out into a gorgeous, mighty specimen and gallops with controlled power every morning.
“It’s so cool to have a horse who has been so brilliant throughout his career and, if anything, seems even better now,” said O’Neill.
In Big Macher, though, Goldencents faces a sprint specialist who has won twice in his last three starts and has recorded best-of-the-morning drills in three of his last four works heading into this race.
“I feel good about him,” said Richard Baltas, who trains Big Macher. “He’s stepping up in class, but he’s got that will to win, and you can’t teach that.”
The Crosby field also includes Grade 1 winner Declassify; the red-hot Seeking the Sherif, who has won four straight; Pablo Del Monte, a 3-year-old turning back to a sprint after two-turn tries in the Blue Grass and Preakness; and the late-running 3-year-old Kobe’s Back.
KEY CONTENDERS
Goldencents (Last 3 Beyers: 109-97-105)
◗ He was an unlucky loser of this race last year, finishing second by a head to eventual sprint champ Points Offthebench. He also was second to Points Offthebench in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship.
◗ Because of the focus on shorter races this year, O’Neill has trained Goldencents differently, including a sharp three-furlong blowout in 34.20 seconds Thursday with jockey Rafael Bejarano aboard. “He was going so easily, he looked like he went in 37,” O’Neill said. “We want to keep him on the fresh side.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Goldencents. Trainer Doug O’Neill is 3 for 31 with a $0.74 ROI over the past five years going from dirt to synthetic and route to sprint. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Big Macher (Last 3 Beyers: 101-98-96)
◗ He has been off since April owing to a small quarter crack, from which he has recovered. “We played it safe with him,” Baltas said. “He had to train in a Z-bar shoe for three or four weeks, but he’s been in a regular racing plate for a while now. We took every precaution. He’s fit, and he’s ready.”
◗ Big Macher landed post 6 in the eight-horse field. “I like the draw, on the outside,” Baltas said.
Declassify (Last 3 Beyers: 97-101-66)
◗ Got a Grade 1 win on his r é sum é in the Triple Bend, but this field is demonstrably stronger.
◗ Mike Smith rides him because Martin Garcia is at Monmouth on Sunday to ride Bayern in the Haskell. Smith rode Goldencents in the Met Mile but only because Bejarano was recovering from injuries at the time.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Declassify. Trainer Bob Baffert is 3 for 10 with a $3.63 ROI over the past five years going from dirt to synthetic in graded stakes sprints following a win. Click for more details. – Dan Illman
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Seeking the Sherif (Last 3 Beyers: 97-103-99)
◗ A former maiden claimer like Big Macher, he has won 4 of 5 since being claimed by Ron Ellis.
◗ He beat Declassify in a second-level allowance at Santa Anita on May 16. Declassify came out of that race to win the Triple Bend.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Pablo Del Monte. Trainer Wesley Ward is 3 for 9 with a $5.08 ROI over the past five years going from dirt to synthetic and route to sprint. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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