Bolt d'Oro progressing toward San Felipe Stakes
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ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolt d’Oro is picking up the pace. The speed, distances, and frequency of his works are accelerating as he progresses toward his first scheduled start at age 3, the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on March 10.
On Thursday morning at Santa Anita, Bolt d’Oro had his third workout since returning to training after taking time off last month to address stiffness in his hind end. With jockey Agapito Delgadillo aboard, he went a half-mile in 47.80 seconds while closing much ground on two horses who broke off well in front of him.
Bolt d’Oro, who wore blinkers in his four starts last year but not in his most-recent workout, had them on for Thursday’s drill. According to his owner and trainer, Mick Ruis, Bolt d’Oro is being trained to show more early speed in his races, with Ruis hoping Bolt d’Oro does not drop back in the early going.
“He’s going to be in some big fields,” Ruis said. “We want to use his natural speed more. He’s got a high cruising speed.”
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Ruis said Bolt d’Oro would work every six days between now and the San Felipe. His penultimate work is scheduled for Feb. 26, and Ruis said that timing allows for Javier Castellano to be in town for that drill, since it is a Monday and Gulfstream Park will not be racing that day. Castellano will ride Bolt d’Oro in the San Felipe, replacing Corey Nakatani.
Bolt d’Oro won three times in four starts last year, with his biggest victories coming in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and Grade 1 FrontRunner at Santa Anita. He has not raced since suffering the first loss of his career when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 4 at Del Mar.
His first work back was Jan. 27, when he went three furlongs in 36.80 seconds. On Feb. 2, he worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds. Ruis said Bolt d’Oro would work five furlongs in his next couple of drills.
