Bolt d'Oro sizzles in Keeneland work

ELMONT, N.Y. – Mick Ruis has moved on from Bolt d’Oro’s 12th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Apparently, the horse has as well.

On Monday, at Keeneland, Bolt d’Oro blitzed five furlongs in 57 seconds in preparation for the Grade 1, $1.2 Metropolitan Handicap here on June 9. According to owner-trainer Ruis, Bolt d’Oro started four lengths behind workmate Orbit Rain and finished three in front.

Ruis said, “we didn’t even try to” go that fast.

“It was scary, a really good work,” he added.

Ruis said the work reminded him of a July 22 drill at Del Mar, about two weeks before Bolt d’Oro debuted, when he went five furlongs in 59 seconds, the fastest of 93 drills at that track that day.

“We’re happy with where he’s at,” Ruis said. “I’m happy I gave him those extra two weeks. We’re drawing a line through that Derby race. He did not handle the track at all.”

Ruis also said that about two days before the Derby Bolt d’Oro showed signs of colic.

Bolt d’Oro will have one more work on Sunday at Keeneland before shipping to New York on the Wednesday before the Met Mile.