Bolt d’Oro, Enticed back on track
After going nine years without a Kentucky Derby starter, Medaglia d’Oro confirmed that he has a pair of serious Derby horses this year after prep wins Saturday by Enticed in the Gotham Stakes and Bolt d’Oro in the San Felipe. Both horses were coming off disappointing losses in their most recent outings. The victories were worth 50 qualifying points each to the two colts, who are now guaranteed stalls in the Derby starting gate on May 5.
Enticed was out to prove that his up-the-track finish in last month’s Holy Bull was an aberration. After tracking longshot Old Time Revival (35-1) for threequarters of the one-mile Gotham, the strapping colt reeled in the leader near the sixteenth pole, drawing off to a 2 ¾-length victory while taken in hand late. The first foal out of three-time Grade 1 winner It’s Tricky, Enticed is a good bet to return to Aqueduct for the Wood Memorial on April 7.
The San Felipe featured a showdown between top Derby contenders Bolt d’Oro and McKinzie. In his last start, the previously undefeated Bolt d’Oro finished third as the 3-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, a loss that cost him an Eclipse Award. McKinzie, winner of the Sham Stakes in his 2018 debut, was looking to extend his unbeaten streak to four.
Bettors had trouble separating the two, with McKinzie ultimately dispatched as the even-money choice and Bolt d’Oro at 6-5. Lombo (26-1) led most of the way until the two favorites took over turning for home. Racing together stride for stride, in tight quarters, a halfdozen lengths clear of their nearest pursuer, the two colts streaked down the lane. A final surge nearing the wire appeared to give McKinzie a narrow victory.
A closer look, however, showed that contact might have been made in the late going, and it didn’t take long for the inquiry and objection signs to light up. After a lengthy deliberation, McKinzie was DQ’ed to second for interference, with Bolt d’Oro moved up to first. The decision was a controversial one, at least for the connections of McKinzie. In truth, though, the order of finish hardly mattered – both horses have enough qualifying points to make the Derby field – in what was by far the most exciting and significant race of the 2018 prep season. A rematch in the Santa Anita Derby on April 7 is a possibility.
Saturday’s third prep, the Tampa Bay Derby, went to Quip, an 18-1 shot whose only previous graded experience was a seventh in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November. The son of Distorted Humor hadn’t been on anyone’s radar prior to Saturday. With the 50 points awarded with his Tampa Bay victory, however, Quip will be issued the same Derby invitation as Bolt d’Oro, McKinzie and Enticed.
Next Saturday’s Derby prep schedule includes two races, the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park and Turfway Park’s recently renamed Jeff Ruby Steaks (sic), formerly known as the Spiral Stakes. Thanks to recent winners American Pharoah, Cupid, Hoppertunity and Will Take Charge – not to mention a casino-fueled purse of $900,000 – the Rebel has enjoyed a higher profile of late. The Jeff Ruby, its purse slashed to $200,00 this year, has had little impact on the Derby since Animal Kingdom won both races in 2011.