Bolt d'Oro off to fast start in commercial arena

Among his first-crop sire class, Bolt d’Oro was the one for whom lightning struck at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale. The multiple Grade 1-winning son of Medaglia d’Oro was represented by a half-brother to Hall of Fame racemare Rachel Alexandra who sold for $1.4 million to Larry Best’s OXO Equine, the second-highest price of the sale overall.

“Frankly, it’s 90 percent physical,” Best said after winning the bid. “However, I love Medaglia d’Oro, and Bolt d’Oro is close. The page looked good, and it’s clearly the standout in the sale.”

Bolstered by that high-ticket horse, Bolt d’Oro is averaging $218,125 from 24 yearlings sold in 2018, statistics that also include short yearlings sold in January and February. However, even without his seven-figure colt in the mix, Bolt d’Oro is averaging $166,739, well more than six times the $25,000 introductory stud fee these yearlings were conceived on.

The early auction prices for Bolt d’Oro’s yearlings are validating the support he has received in his early years at Spendthrift Farm. The young stallion’s first book included that major vote of confidence in Lotta Kim, dam of Rachel Alexandra, being bred to him. His first book also included the dams of Grade 1 winners Come Dancing and Got Stormy. Bolt d’Oro’s second book in 2021 was led by Spendthrift’s four-time Eclipse Award heroine Beholder.

“I’ve seen a lot of Bolts, and I’ve been impressed with them,” said Mark Taylor of consignor Taylor Made Sales. “They’re very athletic-looking horses. A lot of them have very good movement – it just seems to be something that he’s throwing. They look like fast, two-turn horses. I’ve been impressed by him. My gut feeling is he’s gonna be well received.”