Bolo right back off ‘non-effort’

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bolo will have the fastest turnaround of his career in Saturday’s Grade 3 Thunder Road Stakes at Santa Anita, returning 15 days after finishing ninth in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile at Keeneland.

The quick return is a change from trainer Carla Gaines’s typical style but not a major concern when the horse in question is a multiple stakes winner such as Bolo.

“He’s been in great form since he’s been back,” Gaines said.

Bolo’s energy may stem from his performance in the Maker’s 46 Mile – or lack thereof. Sent off as the 7-2 favorite, Bolo was fourth on the backstretch and was not a factor in the stretch, finishing 4 1/4 lengths behind

winner American Patriot. Gaines said Bolo did not like Keeneland’s turf course.

“It was a non-effort,” Gaines said.

Asked if Bolo would ship to other venues for the rest of the year, Gaines was quick with a reply. “No way,” she said.

The $100,000 Thunder Road is the seventh race on a ninerace program that begins at 1 p.m. Pacific. The Thunder Road drew a field of seven and is a prep for the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on June 3.

There will be support for Twentytwentyvision, who was seventh in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap on dirt March 11 and won the Rolling Green Stakes at Golden Gate Fields last September.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bolo, by Temple City Last 3 Beyers: 93-101-100

◗ Bolo has won 5 of 15 starts and earned $663,045, by far the most of the Thunder Road entrants.

◗ Owned by Golden Pegasus Racing Inc. and Earle Mack, Bolo won his first start of 2017 in the Grade 2 Arcadia Stakes at a mile on turf Feb. 11 and was third in the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile on turf March 11.

◗ In the Thunder Road, Bolo is likely to be in pursuit of the former claimer Sawyer’s Hill, who has led throughout his last two starts.

Twentytwentyvision, by Pollard’s Vision Last 3 Beyers: 82-92-85

◗ Twentytwentyvision is winless in five starts since the Rolling Green, including consecutive third-place finishes in two stakes on turf in October and one on a sloppy track in January.

◗ In the Big Cap, Twentytwentyvision was at the back of a field of nine and was never a factor. The race was a failed dirt experiment, Mandella said.

◗ Twentytwentyvision has won 5 of 17 starts but has yet to win a graded stakes.

“I’ve always thought he’s that kind of horse,” Mandella said. “He should do well at this distance. He hasn’t run in a while, and he’s a little fresh.”