From Turf to Dirt, Bolo Targets SA Derby

Though Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) candidate Bolo began his career on the turf, his first experience with the grass was rather bumpy.

Trainer Carla Gaines wanted to try the Temple City   colt on the downhill turf course at Santa Anita Park, but in the post parade of the third race Oct. 29, Bolo did something he never had before—he bucked. Jockey Mike Smith stuck with him for a few moments in true rodeo fashion before hitting the sod, and then Bolo was scratched, with no one hurt.

"We tease Mike about it," Gaines said. "We say, 'You're supposed to last eight seconds, and you only lasted five.'"

Smith, a good sport, was quick to reply, "He didn't buck me off. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I wanted him to feel he was macho."

Bolo has been a perfect gentleman since. He finished fifth in his actual debut, going a mile on the turf, when Gaines said he was "goofing around." Owned by Golden Pegasus Racing and Earle Mack, he next broke his maiden on the lawn Nov. 29 and then took the grassy Eddie Logan Stakes Dec. 27 by 4 1/2 lengths.

"His stakes win was super impressive," Gaines said. "He won in a gallop."

This time of year, 3-year-old opportunities are more prevalent on the dirt than the turf, with Triple Crown preparations under way. So, knowing she can always take Bolo back to the turf, Gaines tried him on the main track.

"We had intended to start him in the Robert B. Lewis (gr. II, Feb. 7)," Gaines said. "He came up with some muscle issues behind and we decided to wait."

Instead, Gaines entered Bolo in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (gr. II).

"Naturally, when I'm trying to get ready for a graded race, that was the only time in this sunny state that we got pounded with rain," Gaines said. "His training was interrupted several times. We just did the best that we could with the time that we had."

Bolo finished a good third behind undefeated Dortmund, prompting Gaines to point her charge for the April 4 Santa Anita Derby, although he is also nominated to the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland and the Twinspires.com Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack, both run on the same day.

Smith has ridden Bolo in all of his races except the San Felipe, when he piloted eighth-place finisher Ocho Ocho Ocho. The Hall of Fame jockey is scheduled to be back aboard Bolo in the Santa Anita Derby.

Gaines sent Bolo through a handy six-furlong breeze in 1:12 flat March 25 in preparation for his upcoming start. 

The dark bay colt, without a speck of white on him, is a Kentucky-bred out of the Chief Seattle mare Aspen Mountain. Gaines, who has won such races as the 2009 Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) with Dancing in Silks, trained his sire for owner-breeder B. Wayne Hughes. Temple City won the Cougar II Handicap (gr. IIIT) on Del Mar's Polytrack and placed in several graded turf events, one of the reasons Gaines initially tried Bolo on grass.

Hughes' Spendthrift Farm-bred Bolo, who was part of a package of horses purchased privately for the Golden Pegasus group headed by Frank Stronach.

Gaines may also saddle Curlin's Fox on the Santa Anita Derby card. She is pointing the Warren Williamson homebred for that day's Santa Anita Oaks (gr. I).

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Curlin  , Curlin's Fox is out of the Foxhound mare Foxysox. Gaines trained Foxysox for Williamson. The mare earned $715,118 and was a multiple graded stakes winner on the turf.

When it came time for Curlin's Fox's debut, Gaines entered her down the hill, so the filly would have a positive first experience and not get dirt in her face. Despite racing wide as the field crossed the dirt, Curlin's Fox won easily by three-quarters of a length under Smith as the 3-5 favorite.

Curlin's Fox was working very well on the dirt for Gaines, and the trainer wanted to run the filly on that surface in the Feb. 28 Santa Ysabel Stakes (gr. III).

"She threw in a really bad work before the race," Gaines said. "The work wasn't typical of her and her blood count was a bit askew, so we just decided to wait."

After Curlin's Fox's blood count righted itself, the March 7 China Doll Stakes fit into the schedule and just happened to be a turf race. Curlin's Fox finished second to longshot Singing Kitty despite having bled.

Curlin's Fox most recently worked six furlongs on the dirt March 28 in 1:14 1/5.

"I don't really have any reserves about her on the dirt," Gaines said. "I believe the dirt might be her best surface."