Bolt d'Oro breezes five furlongs in final prep at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. - The undefeated Bolt d’Oro breezed five furlongs in 1:01.96 Sunday morning at Santa Anita, his final preparation for his start as the expected overwhelming favorite in Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar.

Under jockey Corey Nakatani, Bolt d’Oro began his work about four to five lengths behind Midnight Harbor, a $16,000 claiming horse. Bolt d’Oro tracked his partner until just before the quarter pole, where he drew on even terms after Midnight Harbor went three furlongs in 38.63. Bolt d’Oro cruised through the lane under Nakatani through a final quarter in 24.53 seconds.

Mick Ruis, Bolt d’Oro's trainer and owner, said he had hoped Bolt d’Oro could have waited until midstretch to catch his workmate, but noted that Midnight Harbor had gone too slow for that to happen.

“He couldn’t hold him anymore,” Ruis said of Nakatani.

Ruis said the purpose of the in-company move was just to get Bolt d’Oro’s adrenaline flowing. Bolt d’Oro has had three works since his 7 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1 FrontRunner at Santa Anita on Sept. 30.

“Just wanted him to stretch his legs a little more, just to have a little more competition in his veins, keep the air that he has,” Ruis said. “Coming out of that race, he’s fit, didn’t have to do too much with him, just keep him happy and sound.”

Bolt d’Oro has already run twice at Del Mar, winning a maiden race and the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, so Ruis didn’t feel the need to ship from Santa Anita early. Bolt d’Oro will ship extremely early Tuesday morning, perhaps in time to jog at Del Mar. He will gallop three mornings leading into the race.