Goldencents to Arrive for Preakness Tuesday

Though obviously disappointed by the result, Leandro Mora, assistant trainer to Doug O’Neill, was relieved when Goldencents returned to the barn in good shape after finishing 17th in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby and said the 3-year-old son of Into Mischief would be pointed to the Preakness Stakes May 18.

“He came back A-OK,” said Mora from Louisville. “With all the rain and mud, let’s just say the track was not on our side. (Goldencents) never had to face conditions like that in California.”

“I thought (jockey) Kevin (Krigger) did a great job protecting him. He let Palace Malice go and was in a good position, but when he saw it was hopeless, he eased him up the last part of the race. The track condition made a big difference. The riders saw that speed was doing well earlier in the card and they were all rushing to get position. That’s why the fractions were so fast.”

Mora said that Goldencents would be shipped to Pimlico Tuesday. O’Neill is scheduled to return to California Monday, followed by Mora Tuesday or Wednesday.