Mick Ruis

Santa Anita Derby Preview: Time to Justify the Hype

Get ready for a showdown! The field for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby is set for this Saturday, when a field of seven will file into the gate for the final Kentucky Derby prep…

Kentucky Derby

Derby Trail Tracker: The Big Two Heat Up Pace

The action on the Kentucky Derby Trail was fast and furious over a half-hour’s time last Saturday. I think that the Santa Anita stewards’ decision in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes took longer to finalize than it took to run three Derby points races at three different tracks from coast… Read More

News

Racing Dudes Three Stars of the Week: Drama at Soggy Santa Anita

Three Kentucky Derby preps highlighted an incredible weekend of racing from coast to coast, and Santa Anita gave us a race for the ages. There is nothing better than a good old-fashioned stretch duel, and in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes, McKinzie and Bolt d’Oro gave us quite a… Read More

Race Recaps

Bolt d’Oro Awarded Controversial G2 San Felipe

ARCADIA, CA – The buildup was worth the wait, as Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie engaged in the far turn and battled the length of the stretch, then had the result settled by a controversial disqualification, in a memorable Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. Breaking well along the rail under… Read More

Race Previews

San Felipe Stakes Preview: McKinzie Primed to Become Top Derby Contender

It’s showdown time Saturday at Santa Anita, as top Kentucky Derby prospects McKinzie and Bolt d’Oro head a field of eight sophomores in the Grade 2, $400,000 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. The final major steppingstone to the Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 7,… Read More

Kentucky Derby

Small Barns Ready to Make Big Impact on Kentucky Derby Trail

Many people in racing are becoming more and more frustrated that a select few trainers get the majority of the horses, while hundreds of other trainers struggle year after year to fill barns. The frustration is understandable. A major debate in our industry right now is the existence of these… Read More

Race Recaps

Bolt d’Oro Stays 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’… Read More

Race Recaps

Bolt d’Oro Shows Big Promise in G1 Del Mar Futurity

DEL MAR, CA – Owner/trainer Mick Ruis’ Bolt d’Oro showed big moves and bigger promise, overcoming a squeeze at the start and rallying from near the rear to catch Zatter in the final furlong and win Monday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity. “He got wiped out in the beginning, again,” Ruis… Read More