Report: Castellano to ride Bolt d'Oro in Santa Anita Derby

Jockey Javier Castellano will remain on multiple Grade 1 winner Bolt d’Oro for his final 2018 Kentucky Derby prep, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

According to the Times, owner and trainer Mick Ruis had given Castellano until Monday afternoon to commit for the April 7 Santa Anita Derby, which the son of Bolt d’Oro will use as his springboard to Churchill Downs.

Castellano flew West to ride Bolt d’Oro for the first time in last Saturday's Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. Stewards awarded the colt a victory after McKinzie was found to have moved out late in a stretch battle between the two.

On April 7, Aqueduct hosts the Grade 2 Wood Memorial and Keeneland its Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes. Presumably, the East Coast-based Castellano’s regular trainers, including Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown, would have contenders for both, making this a statement move by the multiple Eclipse Award-winning rider.

Of course, riding Bolt d’Oro would keep Castellano off Instilled Regard should the previous stakes winner start in the Santa Anita Derby. Castellano also recently gave up the mount — at least for the March 31 Florida Derby — on Audible, the Grade 2 Holy Bull winner. He’ll instead travel for the Dubai World Cup, in which his West Coast is the likely favorite.

If Ruis needs a rider for the Kentucky Derby, he has said Triple Crown-winning jockey Victor Espinoza, who recently has worked Bolt d’Oro, would get the assignment.