Kevin Krigger and Goldencents before the Santa Anita Derby. (Alex Norwick/Neon Tommy)

Jockey Kevin Krigger guided Goldencents to the finish in 1:48.76 in the 1 1/8-mile race against seven competitors.

“We continued to train great, Kevin kept the faith and he ran today like we always hoped he would,” said O’Neill.

O’Neill, who won the race last year with I’ll Have Another, expressed his excitement for Goldencents’s development: “This is such a cool horse, he’s got a great combination of speed and stamina and has such a great mind, too.”

Goldencents, whose victory ensures qualification for the Kentucky Derby, came off of a disappointing fourth in the San Felipe (gr. II) in March. O’Neill told reporters his hands-off approach was more effective this race.

“I think I really got in Kevin’s ear last time about being careful,” said O’ Neill. “Today it was just you ride your horse, you do your thing. We adapted and did it right.”

Krigger attributed the win to staying off the pace and keeping the horse comfortable. 

“I didn’t worry if I was in the right spot,” said Krigger. “I just took my hands off his neck and he relaxed down the backstretch.” 

Trainer Bob Baffert, who entered three horses in the Santa Anita Derby, will wait to determine whether runner-up Flashback will participate in the Kentucky Derby. 

“He’s still a young horse, and we’ll wait for the dust to settle,” said Baffert. “He had every chance to win today and couldn’t get to that horse. They ran pretty fast times.” (Editor's Note: Since, Baffert scratched Flashback from the Kentucky Derby due to a knee injury.)

O’Neill celebrated the win in front of 33,005 by inviting dozens of friends and colleagues to the winner’s circle. Among them were Goldencents’s owners, Glenn Sorgenstein and Joshua Kaplan of Wilshire Coin and David Kenney. Rick Pitino, another owner, was busy leading the Louisville basketball team in the NCAA Final Four during the race. 

“I think everyone in the barn has confidence,” said O’ Neill. “Obviously we’ve got to stay injury-free and have a jockey with ice veins.” 

When asked about his chances in the Kentucky Derby, O’Neill emphasized that it is just a matter of tapping into the mind and stamina of Goldencents.

“As soon as the alcohol wears off, we’ll figure it all out.”

Reach Contributor Alex Norwick here.