Bodog Beat

Even though Mine That Bird finished the Goodwood Stakes in sixth place, he's still going to give the Breeders' Cup Classic his best effort. (AP Images)

In just his first start in a Grade 1 stakes race, Gitano Hernando rallied from fifth in the final quarter-mile to finish ahead of favorite Colonel John to win the $305,000 Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday. Richard's Kid rallied late to finish third.

For Gitano, the victory is his biggest to date. The English-bred horse has won 4 of 7 starts and his career earnings were a mere $54,669. Now with Saturday's big take his career earnings total a whopping $219,669.

PLUS, because the Goodwood Stakes is part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" Challenge series Gitano is now headed to race in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

"Our goal is the Classic," said Aron Wellman, racing manager for co-owner Team Valor International.

Mine That Bird finished a disappointing sixth in the Goodwood Stakes, but is still expected to race in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Trainer Chip Woolley believes the shorter distance worked against Mine That Bird and that an extra eighth of a mile would have changed the outcome of the race. Considering the BC Classic is run over 1 1/4 miles, Mine That Bird will still have another opportunity to prove that theory's correct. In the meantime, the Kentucky Derby winner and his jockey, Calvin Borel, will get three more works on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride synthetic track.

"He had a perfect trip, but he got to struggling a bit," Borel said. "I do know one thing: He's a lot better horse on the dirt. When you ask him here, he goes to struggling instead of just running. I don't know. We'll have to work on that a little bit and see what happens. But I think he'll be all right."

Nonetheless, on this day at Santa Anita it was all about the British horse that upset the American favorite. Gitano Hernando's win has no doubt made quite a few horse racing fans and bettors happy.

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