Bold'n Keen settles into sprint duty

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Bold'n Keen looks like the one to beat in the Saturday feature, a $50,000 optional claiming sprint for 3-year-olds that drew six horses.

Bold'n Keen looked like he could be one of the best 3-year-olds on the grounds when he won his maiden by 12 1/2 lengths June 1, but he hasn't won since and it appears that, at best, he's likely to be a very good sprinter. He has never won at a middle distance, and since he finished 10th in the 1 1/8-mile B.C. Derby Sept. 21, his trainer, Rob VanOverschot, has decided to look for shorter races for him.

"I won't try to stretch him out anymore," said VanOverschot. "He's a very fast horse but it just hasn't worked out trying to get him to go farther than 6 1/2 furlongs."

Bold'n Keen came out of the Derby in fine shape and his quick half-mile work in 46.20 seconds Tuesday indicates that he's as sharp as ever.

"He worked great," said VanOverschot. "We'll probably turn him out after this race and let him do some growing up. I think with some maturity he can be one of the top sprinters here next year."

There's plenty of speed in field and that could help set up Colondelivery, who just missed to the very promising Leloup in his last start.

Colondelivery was stakes placed last year, and looking at his company lines, it's understandable why he's still eligible for a nonwinners-of-two. He has had the misfortune to run against the best 3-year-olds on the grounds, including stakes winners Cruising Kat, Silver Donn, Shacane, and Lord Shogun.

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