Bolo zips a half for Santa Anita Derby

ARCADIA, Calif. – Days before the biggest race of his career, Bolo had the fastest half-mile workout of his career at Santa Anita on Tuesday. Bolo worked four furlongs in 46.80 seconds, his final major exercise before Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Derby.

“I was looking for something a little slower, but the track is fast this morning,” trainer Carla Gaines said.

Bolo has had 24 works since he began serious training last August, and five have been at a half-mile. Bolo has won 2 of 4 starts and earned $129,700 for Golden Pegasus Racing.

The colt won the Eddie Logan Stakes at a mile on turf Dec. 27 and was third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes on March 7, his first race on dirt. Bolo finished behind Dortmund and Prospect Park, the two leading contenders in the Santa Anita Derby field. The Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles will be the longest race of his career.

“I don’t think the distance will be a test at all,” Gaines said. “He’s been spot-on the whole month.”

The Santa Anita Derby has a projected field of six, including Cross the Line, who won the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields on Jan. 17 and was second in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby there Feb. 14. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Cross the Line worked a half-mile in 47 seconds at Santa Anita on Tuesday.

The other candidates for the Santa Anita Derby are Bad Read Sanchez and One Lucky Dane.