With a valiant re-rally in deep stretch, Corona Bolt (Bolt d'Oro) for Stonestreet Stables, dug down deep to declare victory in the Lafayette S. on Opening Day at Keeneland.
A winner on debut Nov. 19 at Churchill Downs, the juvenile next won the Sugar Bowl S. at the Fair Grounds in wire-to-wire fashion by 6 3/4-lengths Dec. 26. In the new year, the bay colt was a well-beaten sixth over the slop in Hot Springs Jan. 28 against Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo) in the GIII Southwest S. Staying put Mar. 5 in what was a prep for this spot, the Brad Cox trainee returned to his winning ways after serving as the prohibitive favorite against allowance company when he once again led the whole way.
Breaking from the five hole, the 2-1 price secured the lead down the backstretch and was joined before the far turn by 7-5 favorite Hejazi (Bernardini), who tracked the pacesetter to his outside. Holding on to a slim margin, Corona Bolt made for home along the fence and as the pair squared off with less than a furlong left, it appeared that Hejazi had gained the upper hand. However, with a strong push forward in the Stonestreet silks by Florent Geroux, the bay colt throttled up to score by a length over his rival.
“I think he's meant to be a one-turn horse,” said Brad Cox. “When you do that, you have to breeze them a little sharper, maybe not train them quite as much throughout the week. Overall, I think he's found his thing around one turn. I'm not sure how far he wants to go. I want to congratulate Stonestreet [Stables]. He's a very, very good colt. I'm thankful for the opportunity with him and I think he has a big future. We need to find some graded stakes for him and we're excited about what lies ahead.”
A $225,000 '20 KEENOV purchase as a weanling, the winner is a half-brother to SW Proven Strategies (Sky Mesa). His dam produced a 2-year-old filly by Flatter and also a yearling colt by War of Will. She was bred to Yaupon last year.
LAFAYETTE S., $320,050, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, 7f, 1:23.21, ft.
1–CORONA BOLT, 118, c, 3, by Bolt d'Oro
1st Dam: Stormbeforethecalm, by Quiet American
2nd Dam: Smart Catomine, by Smart Strike
3rd Dam: Gather the Storm, by Storm Cat
($225,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV). O-Stonestreet Stables LLC;
B-Summerfield Sales Agency, Inc. & Etarip Stables (FL); T-Brad
Cox; J-Florent Geroux. $181,350. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0,
$356,400. *1/2 to Proven Strategies (Sky Mesa), SW &
GSP-Can, GSP-USA, $357,257.
2–Hejazi, 118, c, 3, Bernardini–G Note, by Medaglia d'Oro.
($3,550,000 2yo '22 EASMAY). O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.;
B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-Bob Baffert.
$58,500.
3–Freezing Point, 118, c, 3, Frosted–Happy Motoring, by
Harlan's Holiday. ($48,000 RNA Ylg '21 KEESEP; $13,000 2yo
'22 OBSOPN). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Randy Jill Gootzeit; B-Dr.
Hiram C. Polk & Dr. Susan Galandiuk (KY); T-Joe Lejzerowicz.
$39,000.
Margins: 1, 2HF, 4HF. Odds: 2.41, 1.47, 66.77.
Also Ran: Lugan Knight, Gulfport, Determinedly, Hurricane J.
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