Bolt d'Oro

Ruis Racing’s Bolt d’Oro, a Medaglia d’Oro colt, won his debut at Del Mar on Aug. 5 and then in his next start wore down Zayat Stables' Zatter to win the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity by three-quarters of a length. He followed with a dominant victory in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes to punch his ticket to the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile. In the FrontRunner, Bolt d'Oro pressed the pace from second and seized command with an explosive bid on the final turn, charging to a 7 3/4-length romp as the 9-10 favorite.

Sent off as the 7-10 favorite in the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile back at Del Mar on Nov. 4, Bolt d’Oro bobbled at the break and endured a wide trip throughout. He made a rally entering the stretch but had too much ground to make up and finished a well-beaten third behind Good Magic and Solomini.

After a freshening that was interrupted with a mild setback, Bolt d’Oro made his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. In the San Felipe, he engaged McKinzie at the top of the stretch and the two talented runners battled stride for stride to the finish line. McKinzie got his head in front late, but he was disqualified for interference after there was bumping entering the stretch and again near the finish line.

With the win, Bolt d’Oro earned 50 points toward qualifying for the 2018 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and guaranteed his place in the first jewel of the Triple Crown. In his final Kentucky Derby prep race, Bolt d’Oro tracked even-money favorite Justify from second early and applied pressure on the final turn, but he could not match strides with the victor and held on for second, well clear of third-place finisher Core Beliefs.

Sent off at 8.90-1 odds in the Derby, Bolt d’Oro stalked Justify behind pacesetter Promises Fulfilled through the backstretch and remained in third after a mile, but had no answer when called upon by jockey Victor Espinoza and tired to finish 12^th.

Bolt d’Oro was bred by WinStar farm and purchased by his owner-trainer for $630,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale.