Ruis Racing's GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bolt d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) worked seven furlongs under Victor Espinoza in 1:24.20 at Santa Anita Sunday morning ahead of a prospective start in the GI Kentucky Derby on May 5.
“He looked good to me,” owner/trainer Mick Ruis said after the drill.
Santa Anita clockers caught Bolt d'Oro with fractional times of :35, :46.60, :58.80 and 1:11.40.
“Bolt felt great,” said Espinoza. “It was pretty awesome. It was exactly what I expected. We wanted 1:24 so the clock in my head is still working. That was what Mick wanted me to do.”
• Craig Upham's GI Ashland S. third-place finisher Patrona Margarita (Special Rate) recorded a half-mile breeze in :48.80 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs in preparation for a start in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 4. The Texas-bred breezed through eighth-mile splits of :12.60, :24.60 and :36.80 before galloping out five furlongs in 1:02 and six furlongs in 1:15.60, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.
“She's been doing very well,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “She had a couple of rough months at Fair Grounds with some fungus on her leg that we had to treat with antibiotics and give her some time off. I think now she's just really getting turned around from the antibiotics. She wasn't close to top shape in the Ashland but is doing really well now.”
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