Bolt d'Oro 'easy as could be' in Kentucky Derby 2018 work

Owner/trainer Mick Ruis said he got “exactly what we wanted" Saturday morning at Santa Anita Park, where his 2018 Kentucky Derby-bound ace Bolt d'Oro drilled four furlongs in :48.20 at 7:45 a.m.

With three-time Derby-winning rider Victor Espinoza in the tack, the husky son of Medaglia d’Oro put in his final bit of exercise for the 144th Run for the Roses much to the delight of the mercurial Ruis.

“Victor never moved a hand on him,” the owner/trainer said. “He went around there easy as could be. We didn’t need any more with him. We put that seven-eighths (work) into him last week and he’s got all his air now.

"Heck, if after his win in the San Felipe, and the Santa Anita Derby, and that good work last week -- if that isn’t enough to have him ready for this race -- then we shouldn’t be there.”

Espinoza, who scored in the Kentucky Derby with War Emblem (2002) and California Chrome (2014) and American Phroah (2015) will handle the $630,000 yearling purchase next Saturday. 

Ruis was on his way to the airport in Los Angeles for a flight to Kentucky and a first-time visit to Chestnut Farm, a facility he’d recent purchased that is located approximately four miles from Keeneland Racecourse. 

Bolt d’Oro will ship to Louisville Monday on a flight with several California horses bound for stakes engagements at Churchill Downs. Ruis said he will drive over from Lexington to meet him that day.