By Christie DeBernardis
Golden Pegasus Racing and Earle Mack's Bolo (Temple City) made an impressive return to the races last time out in the GII Arcadia S. and looks to build on that, as well as score his first win at the highest level, in Saturday's GI Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. Victorious in two of his three starts on grass as a juvenile, including the 2014 Eddie Logan S., the dark bay tried his hand at dirt at the start of his sophomore campaign, finishing a solid third to Dortmund (Big Brown) in both the GII San Felipe S. and GI Santa Anita Derby last spring. After a non-factor 12th behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GI Kentucky Derby, Carla Gaines returned her charge to the sod, winning an Arcadia allowance before finishing a disappointing ninth in the GI Belmont Derby July 4. Shelved for the rest of the season, Bolo made his return to the races as a 7-1 shot in the Feb. 13 Arcadia and surged late to deny MGISW Obviously (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}). Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who was in the irons for the colt's first three starts and the Santa Anita Derby, gets back aboard here.
The Sareen Family Trust's talented Om (Munnings) looks to rebound off a third-place finish in the Arcadia. Winner of last year's GII Del Mar Derby and GII Twilight Derby, the Dan Hendricks trainee was a close third in the GI Hollywood Derby Nov. 28 after being overtaken in the final furlong by the late running Chiropractor (Kitten's Joy) and March (Blame). Returning to his winning ways in the GII Mathis Brothers Mile Dec. 26, the flashy chestnut earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for that effort and matched that figure last time when making a three-wide bid to complete the trifecta behind the frontrunners in the Arcadia.
“He'll run his race in his usual spot right up front,” Hendricks said to the Santa Anita press team. “We'll see how the turf plays, how the other horses come out of there and decide what to do. There's speed in the race–not Obviously's speed–but quite a bit, so I think there will be fast fractions for whoever is out front.”
Hall of Fame conditioner Richard Mandella saddles Fox Hill Farm and Siena Farms runner Bal a Bali (Brz) (Put It Back) in this spot. A champion and MG1SW in his native Brazil, the dark bay captured his U.S. debut in the GIII American S. last spring, but finished off the board in the GI Shoemaker Mile and GII Del Mar Mile H. Dropped in class, he captured a Del Mar optional claimer last October and finished second to the reopposing Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile) in the GII Seabiscuit H. Nov. 27. He was last seen finishing third in the nine-panel GII San Gabriel S. Jan. 2 and should benefit from this cut back in distance.
Rounding out the seven-horse field are De Treville (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who makes his U.S. debut for trainer John Shireffs in this ambitious spot; Kenjisstorm (Stormy Atlantic), a last out optional claimer winner over this course and distance Feb. 6; and What a View (Vronsky), victor of the California Cup Turf Classic last time Jan. 30.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
