Bolt d'Oro to get a rest, target Pacific Classic as summer goal

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Bolt d’Oro is done chasing Justify for now.

Second to him in the Santa Anita Derby and then 12th in the Kentucky Derby on Saturday after being spurned on the far turn by Justify, Bolt d’Oro will return to California on Tuesday and will not run in either the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes, the next two legs of the Triple Crown, according to owner and trainer Mick Ruis.

“It’s not in his best interest,” Ruis said Sunday of continuing on the Triple Crown trail.

“Bob,” Ruis said, referring to Bob Baffert, the trainer of Justify, “has a monster.”

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Ruis said Bolt d’Oro had come out of the Derby in good condition, but he wanted to give him a brief freshening before embarking on a summer campaign.

Ruis grew up near San Diego in El Cajon and said his main goal is the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 18, against older horses, with a likely prep in, as he put it, “one of the big 3-year-old races.” Based on the timing of the Pacific Classic, the 3-year-old race that might best fit that plan is the Haskell at Monmouth on July 29, 20 days before the Pacific Classic.

• Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer on Sunday said he wanted to wait a few days before deciding on a course of action with Instilled Regard, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby at 85-1.

This marked the second straight year Hollendorfer had a longshot outperform his odds in the Derby. Battle of Midway was third at 40-1 last year.

“Very proud of my colt’s race,” said Hollendorfer, who said Instilled Regard had come out of the race well.

• Solomini, 10th in the Kentucky Derby behind stablemate Justify, will not run in the Preakness on May 19 at Pimlico but “might be a horse for the Belmont,” the final leg of the Triple Crown on June 9, Baffert said Sunday.

“He beat half of them. He switched leads yesterday,” Baffert said of the notoriously unfocused colt, who was purposely taken to the back of the field early and allowed to make one run.

Like Justify, Solomini will remain at Churchill Downs for the time being.