Bolo catches few softies in Kilroe Mile
ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolo ran beyond expectations when he won the $200,000 Arcadia Stakes at a mile on turf at Santa Anita on Feb. 13 in his first start in more than seven months. He stalked the pace and finished well to win by a neck, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 106.
Bolo will need to be equally as brilliant to win Saturday’s $400,000 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf at Santa Anita. The Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes had a strong field; the lineup for the Grade 1 Kilroe is better.
Several are capable of winning, notably Om, a winner of three stakes for 3-year-olds in 2015; Bal a Bali, the winner of the 2014 Triple Crown in Brazil; Midnight Storm, a graded stakes winner at Del Mar in 2014 and 2015; and What a View, the speedy winner of the California Cup Turf Classic on Jan. 30.
Rain was expected Friday, which could leave the course in less-than-firm condition.
KEY CONTENDERS
Bolo, by Temple City
Last 3 Beyers: 106-80-94
◗ Trained by Carla Gaines for a partnership that includes Santa Anita chairman Keith Brackpool, Bolo won his first graded stakes in the Arcadia Stakes. Since then, the 4-year-old Bolo has thrived, Gaines said.
“He came out of the race off the break incredibly well,” Gaines said. “He’s ready to do more. He’s touting us.
“My biggest fear is him bouncing off such a long layoff. We don’t think he will, but he needs to get out there.”
Midnight Storm, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 99-90-59
◗ Midnight Storm has not raced since winning the Grade 2 Seabiscuit Handicap on turf at Del Mar in November. Like Bolo, Midnight Storm will be within range of the leaders.
◗ Trainer Phil D’Amato said the winter break may benefit Midnight Storm.
“Anytime you come off a layoff, there’s always a little worry,” D’Amato said. “He tends to run big races fresh. We’ve been pointing for this. We wanted to give him a break after Del Mar.”
Bal a Bali, by Put It Back
Last 3 Beyers: 101-96-101
◗ Bal a Bali was second to Midnight Storm in the Seabiscuit and third in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes here Jan. 2. Trainer Richard Mandella said he skipped the Arcadia to focus on the Kilroe.
“I did it on purpose to get the best race out of him in this race,” Mandella said. “There are a couple of speed horses in here. I hope they go like hell.”
Om, by Munnings
Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-97
◗ Om was beaten three lengths by Bolo in the Arcadia but won three of his previous four starts.
“If that’s his bad race or his off race, it’s not that bad,” trainer Dan Hendricks said.
◗ Om won the Grade 2 Mathis Brothers Mile on turf here Dec. 26, a performance that would make him a factor Saturday.
Dozen in China Doll
Pacific Heat, a convincing winner of the $200,000 California Cup Oaks at a mile on turf Jan. 30, will be favored to win the $75,000 China Doll Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf.
The last of 11 races on Saturday, the China Doll Stakes drew a field of 12.