Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) worked six furlongs from the gate in 1:12 flat (1/8) at Santa Anita Monday. Jockey Javier Castellano was in the irons for the first time as the colt prepared for his sophomore debut in the Mar. 10 GII San Felipe S.
Bolt d'Oro broke slowly, but was quickly into stride and about a length and a half behind workmate Eskimo Roses (Eskendereya) at the half-mile pole. With Castellano gradually asking Bolt d'Oro to pick up the pace, he was a length off the 3-year-old maiden at the quarter pole and took over while well within himself three-sixteenths-of-a-mile from home. He galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 flat and a mile in 1:39.80.
“He breezed good, I really like the way he finished,” said Castellano. “He got some dirt in his face and it didn't bother him. I asked him little by little to pick it up around the turn and he did it very easy. I rode him the way they asked me and it was a good, solid work.”
Owner/trainer Mick Ruis said, “He went a little quick early, but he finished really good. I think we're where we need to be. He's a very smart horse and he can get very relaxed behind the gate. I'm really glad we worked out of the gate today, because he'll be much sharper next time.”
Winner of last year's GI Del Mar Futurity and GI FrontRunner S., Bolt d'Oro has been off since finishing third behind 2-year-old champion Good Magic (Curlin) in the Nov. 4 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Corey Nakatani has ridden the colt in all four of his lifetime starts to date, but Castellano is scheduled to have the mount in the San Felipe.
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