By Alan Carasso
Pin Oak Stud's Boltage (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro) made a smashing impression in his first start on the turf and going a distance of ground Thursday evening at Del Mar, charging home with big, round strides to graduate by 5 1/2 lengths, good for 'TDN Rising Star' honors.
And an electrifying effort it was. Drawn towards the outside in a field of 10, the March-foaled bay bounced very alertly and was involved in bit of an early tussle for the lead with longshot Details Matter (Coast Guard) before ceding the advantage heading to the backstretch. It appeared to have been a smart tactical decision from Ramon Vasquez, as the opening quarter was up in a slick :22 flat and the half in a strong :46.21. Fully expecting the pacesetter to drop away, Vazquez was content to sit against Boltage, eventually allowing him to nose in front five-sixteenths from home. Popped the question in upper stretch, Boltage responded immediately to put a gap on his rivals and sprinted home very nicely for an impressive victory as the 3.90-1 second pick. Glandford (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), a latest second at Yarmouth for trainer William Jarvis and making his stateside bow here, was off slowly, found some traffic when the real running was about to begin and finished well to be second.
Boltage was an even sixth on debut behind susbequent GIII Best Pal S. third Raging Torrent (Maximus Mischief) in a five-furlong maiden July 23, a race whose third-place finisher Tall Paul (Frosted) broke his maiden in New York-bred company at Saratoga Aug. 12.
Ultimate Prize was purchased for $1,200 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, reportedly pregnant to Midshipman, but Boltage is the mare's first live produce. Boltage, sold for $20,000 at last year's Keeneland January Sale, proved a nifty pinhook when hammering to Jim and Dana Bernhard's Lynnhaven Racing for $240,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July sale about six months later. This is also the Emory Hamilton family of champion Queena, the dam of GISW Brahms, as well as Grade I winners Verrazano and Somali Lemonade.
Ultimate Prize is also the dam of Mr Loooch (Speightster), SP, $154,560, recent runner-up in the Honey Jay S. at Thistledown Aug. 12, a yearling colt named Metwally (Mitole) and a weanling colt by Omaha Beach. She was bred to both the latter and Golden Pal this season.
8th-Del Mar, $84,500, Msw, 8-24, 2yo, 1mT, 1:37.20, fm, 5 1/4 lengths.
BOLTAGE, c, 2, by Bolt d'Oro
1st Dam: Ultimate Prize, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Queens Full, by Indian Charlie
3rd Dam: Puestera, by Forty Niner
Sales history: $20,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $240,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-0, $49,700. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-Virginia Moore & Malia Hopkins (KY); T-Richard E Mandella.
BOLTAGE ($9.80) was electric while winning the 8th at @DelMarRacing. Another 2-year-old winner for @spendthriftfarm's Bolt d'Oro. He's trained by Richard Mandella and ridden by @JockeyRamonVazq for owners @PinOakStud. pic.twitter.com/STZ9ylKTiH
— TVG (@TVG) August 25, 2023
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