Thursday workout for Kentucky Derby contender Goldencents

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - San Anita Derby winner Goldencents put in his final Kentucky Derby workout Thursday morning at Santa Anita Park. The colt is trained by Doug O'Neill.

With regular exercise rider Jonny Garcia in the saddle, Goldencents, co-owned by Rick Pitino, went six furlongs in 1:16 1/5. The colt galloped out seven furlongs in 1:29 2/5 and a mile in 1:43 2/5.

"We try to make his workouts similar to a gallop," said O"Neill. "We try not to zap him. This is very similar to what he does every day, just a little quicker.

"I thought he went great. My biggest focus was to have him finish up stronger than he started off, and he did just that. I got him in 40 (seconds) for the first three furlongs, and 36 (seconds) for the second three furlongs, so he definitely picked it up when Jonny (Garcia) asked him to, and I liked the gallop out. I'm very happy."

Goldencents, who will be ridden on May 4 by Kevin Krigger, will leave California for Kentucky on Saturday at around 7 a.m. (ET). O'Neill won last year's Run for the Roses after capturing the Santa Anita Derby with I'll Have Another. Nine 3-year-olds have pulled off the Kentucky Derby-Santa Anita Derby double.