After fast win on turf, Bolden will tackle the big boys in graded sprints on dirt

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolden flew around the Santa Anita turf course last Friday to win a six-furlong allowance race on turf for statebreds by 7 3/4 lengths in 1:07.50, the second-fastest time at the distance at the 76-day winter-spring meeting.

That might be the last time Bolden races on turf in the near future, even though he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 103.

On Sunday, trainer Phil D’Amato said the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt at Del Mar on Aug. 27 is a goal for Bolden, with the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on dirt on July 30 as another possibility.

D’Amato said Del Mar’s premier turf sprint of the summer – the Grade 3 Green Flash Handicap at five furlongs on Sept. 4 – is not on Bolden’s schedule.

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“Five furlongs is not the most appealing thing,” he said. “That distance is too short.”

Bolden, a California-bred colt by Square Eddie, races for Rockingham Ranch and is unbeaten in three starts. Bolden won his debut in a maiden special weight race for California-bred 2-year-olds at Santa Anita in June 2020 when trained by Peter Miller.

Bolden joined D’Amato’s stable earlier this year and won his first start of 2022 in an allowance race for statebreds at six furlongs on dirt on May 15. He closed from third in a field of nine to win by six lengths. BPurchased for $100,000 as a yearling, Bolden has won his three starts by a combined 19 1/4 lengths.

D’Amato is interested to see how Bolden will perform when tested in the stretch.

“We’ll know how good a horse he is when another horse looks him in the eye,” he said.

D’Amato was the leading trainer of the winter-spring meeting at Santa Anita, which ended on Sunday, winning 63 races. Doug O’Neill was second with 40.

Juan Hernandez led all riders with 104 wins, well clear of second-place Flavien Prat, who had 73.

Prat was the leading rider in early spring when he relocated to the East Coast. Hernandez was the beneficiary of Prat’s departure, going from second place to a clear lead. Tyler Baze finished third in the standings with 54 wins.