Jockey Kevin Krigger will attempt to win the Kentucky Derby with his first Derby mount
Jockey Kevin Krigger have been looking for a dream mount in Northern California the past year, but in all of his Golden Gate winners, he couldn’t find one or none of those winners could have led him to the Kentucky Derby, but it took the 29-year-old less
than one year to find Goldencents, and the pair with four starts together have gone on to win three of them.
They started together at Del Mar, where Goldencents defeated maidens at first asking over a distance of five and one-half furlongs. Straight to Belmont Park in his next start, the duo were looking for their first grade 1 win in their first attempt, but Todd
Pletcher trained Shanghai Bobby had his own special winning streak to keep intact, as he defeated Doug O’Neill conditioned Goldencents in second. His only second place finish in four career starts.
Though not a grade 1 winner, Goldencents went on to post a graded stakes victory Delta Downs when he downed the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot over two-turns to cap off the 2012 season with a victory.
The 3-year-old colt by Into Mischief was adamant to bag this one as he defeated Bern Identity in second and Mylute in third, with the winning time of1 minute and 44.89 seconds. His juvenile career ended on a high and the Delta Downs Jackpot victory made
the Kentucky Derby a possibility.
The Kentucky Derby dream for owner Dave Kenney of W.C. Racing became a reality when Krigger and Goldencents started the New Year by landing the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park over a mile. While, rider Kevin Krigger will attempt to win the Kentucky
Derby with his first Derby mount.
“When you get a Derby mount for the first time, you have to capitalize every moment, because you don’t know when the next time is coming,” Krigger said.
“He’s here every morning at 5:30,” O’Neill said. “There are a lot of riders here with a good work ethic. Kevin’s is as good as any.”
“This might be one of the best horses I’ve been on,” Krigger said.
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