Bolt d'Oro's 'done nothing but move forward' on Kentucky Derby trail
Leading 2018 Kentucky Derby hopeful Bolt d’Oro, scheduled to work four furlongs Monday for the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 7, is faring well since winning the San Felipe Stakes via disqualification of McKinzie in a thrilling and controversial battle separated by only a head at the end of 1 1/16 miles.
“He’s training like a million bucks,” owner/trainer Mick Ruis said Saturday morning. “I can’t wait to breeze him Monday.”
Added private clocker Tony Turrell, publisher of the popular and well-respected tip sheet Winners Card: “He can’t be looking or doing any better. He’s done nothing but move forward in gigantic fashion since the San Felipe.”
Bolt d’Oro will work in company Monday at 7:45 a.m. PT under former jockey Agapito Delgadillo. He’ll again be ridden in the Santa Anita Derby by Javier Castellano.
The San Felipe was Bolt d’Oro’s first race in four months. The colt missed his scheduled 3-year-old debut on Feb. 10 in the San Vicente Stakes due to a pulled muscle, forcing Ruis to bring him up to the San Felipe on works alone.
The $1 million, Grade I Santa Anita Derby at 1 1/8 miles awards 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 for third and 10 for fourth.