Corona Bolt turns back to sprint after misfire in Southwest
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Triple Crown nominee Corona Bolt is unbeaten at one turn and will get back to that configuration Sunday in the fourth race at Oaklawn Park.
He’s part of a competitive field of eight for an allowance for 3-year-olds that’s also open to 4-year-olds and up who have never won two races. The distance is six furlongs, and the purse is $103,000.
Corona Bolt is turning back from a start over 1 1/16 miles in the Southwest, a Kentucky Derby points race on Jan. 28 at Oaklawn in which he finished sixth. He was one of the top choices off a more than six-length win in the Sugar Bowl, a sprint stakes at Fair Grounds in December for which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 97.
“We’re just going to cut him back and hopefully he performs well,” said Brad Cox, who trains Corona Bolt. “He’s a young horse that hasn’t run too many times. We’re still figuring out what he wants to do, what he’s best at. We’ll see how things go Sunday.”
Corona Bolt has won 2 of 3 starts. He encountered a wet track for the first time in the Southwest.
“For whatever reason, it was not his day,” Cox said. “He didn’t break running. He needs to be more involved shortening up.”
Corona Bolt will start from the rail under Florent Geroux, who is 2 for 2 on the son of Bolt d’Oro for Stonestreet Stables.
There is a second stakes winner in the field in Count de Monet, who won the $150,000 Advent Stakes in December at Oaklawn. He will break from post 3. Santo Sanjur has the mount for Charles Galli and trainer Tom Swearingen.
Other 3-year-olds of note in the field include Ben’s Legacy, a full brother to champion Rushing Fall, and Joking Way, a recent allowance winner at Oaklawn.
Giant Mischief possible for Lafayette
Corona Bolt’s stablemate, Giant Mischief, is under consideration for the $400,000 Lafayette at Keeneland, Cox said. The seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds is April 7.
Giant Mischief last raced in the Rebel at Oaklawn and finished sixth as the second choice in the 1 1/16-mile race Feb. 25.
“We’re going to shorten him up as well,” Cox said Thursday.
Cox said the Lafayette is appealing for the success that Giant Mischief had last fall at Keeneland. He won a first-level allowance at the race’s distance in November, with a Beyer of 95.
Cox also trains Verifying, the Rebel favorite who finished a troubled fourth in the race. The horse will proceed to another points race for the Kentucky Derby.
“We’re going to give him another shot, in either the Arkansas Derby or Blue Grass,” Cox said Thursday.
The $1.25 million Arkansas Derby is April 1 at Oaklawn and the $1 million Blue Grass is April 8 at Keeneland. Both races are at 1 1/8 miles and both are Grade 1s.
◗ The $21.4 million handle Oaklawn achieved on Rebel Day ranks as the track’s third-highest handle of all time, according to director of racing Jennifer Hoyt.
◗ A Mo Reay, winner of the Grade 3 Bayakoa at Oaklawn, is being pointed to the Grade 1, $500,000 Beholder at Santa Anita, Cox said Thursday. The one-mile race for fillies and mares is March 11.
◗ Pauline’s Pearl, an earner of $1.8 million coming off a win in the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston, is being considered for the Beholder, trainer Steve Asmussen said last week.
◗ Jodean, a 4-year-old half-sister to Kentucky Derby prospect Reincarnate who ran earlier in the meet at Oaklawn, will be bred to Epicenter and sold at auction in November, said her owner, Staton Flurry.
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