Bolo Trains for SA Derby, 'Pharoah' Back
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After making his first three starts on turf, Bolo gave a promising effort in his dirt debut March 7, when he finished third—two lengths behind undefeated Dortmund, despite being steadied in the stretch—in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) at Santa Anita Park.
The Temple City colt will stay on the dirt for his next race, the $1 million Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) April 4, and worked four furlongs in :47 4/5 March 19 at Santa Anita, in preparation for the Triple Crown prep race.
"We were very pleased," trainer Carla Gaines said of the San Felipe-placed finisher. "It was sort of an unknown (racing on dirt for the first time), and he had missed some training and didn't go into the race exactly as we would have liked."
Rebel Stakes (gr. II) winner American Pharoah, who headed the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3 as the 9-1 individual favorite, also returned to the track for the first time March 19 since making his 2015 debut at Oaklawn Park in the March 14 prep for the Arkansas Derby (gr. I).
"He looks happy," trainer Bob Baffert said.