Bolt d'Oro Looks Golden In G1 FrontRunner

ARCADIA, CA – Owner/trainer Mick Ruis’ Bolt d’Oro continued his west coast juvenile dominance, stretching out and besting all challengers in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita.

The FrontRunner is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Bolt d’Oro receiving an automatic berth in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Saturday, November 4.

Breaking well from post 4 under Corey Nakatani, Bolt d’Oro stalked between Zatter and Texas Wedge while Take the One O One set early splits of :23.17, :47.23, and 1:11.88. Bolt d’Oro bid outside of the leader through the far turn, emerging onto the front stretch with the lead before kicking away to win by a dominating 7 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:43.53 for the 1 1/16-mile main track event.

“I really liked the way he did it,” Nakatani said. “He’s confident wherever he is at; he is a special animal. Mick gave me the instructions and the horse did the rest.”

Solomini spent much of the race running three- and four-wide, and while he was no match for the winner, he was the best of the rest, taking second by 2 1/2 lengths over Take the One O One. Ayacara, Zatter, Encumbered, City Plan, Continental Divide, and Texas Wedge completed the order of finish.

The win kept Bolt d’Oro’s perfect record intact at 3-3-0-0, including the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity last out. A $630,000 yearling purchase, the win increased his career earnings to $396,000.

“We thought he could run two turns, and now we know he can,” Ruis said. “Our goal was this race and the Breeders’ Cup, and then give him a chance to grow up. Hopefully, what dreams are made of is what this guy might be able to get us to. That’s why we tried to stay on course and not get too excited about the Grade 1 at Del Mar. That was all on his natural talent.”

The Chandelier is part of the Road to the 2018 Kentucky Derby prep race season. Bolt d’Oro earned 10 points for the win, with Somolini receiving 4 for second, Take the One O One 2 for third, and Ayacara 1 for fourth.

Bolt d’Oro returned $3.80 to win, $2.80 to place, and $2.20 to show. Solomini brought back $3.80 to place and $3 to show, while Take the One O One paid $7 to show.

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