Bolt d’Oro’s Look Forward perseveres for first graded win in $600,000 Eight Belles S. (G2)

Look Forward got a clean trip over a sealed Churchill Downs surface to win the Eight Belles S. (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day at the Louisville oval.

The 3-year-old daughter of Bolt d’Oro was in post 10 in the 11-horse field going seven furlongs, and after a good break, found herself between horses in a three-way battle for the lead down the backstretch. Midway on the turn after a half-mile in :44.17, Look Forward poked her nose in front and turned for home with about a length lead over Impulse Buy, who faded soon after.

Down the lane, Look Forward was challenged by Blue Fire, but held her at bay in the late stages to win by 1 ¼-lengths in 1:22.36 on a fast track that was sealed due to approaching storms in the area.

“I felt like we hadn’t seen the best of this filly in her last two starts,” trainer Mike McCarthy said of the filly’s outings in the Ashland S. (G1) and Honeybee S. (G3), both two-turn races. “Cutting back today, her work here this past week was fantastic. She broke with them today. (Jockey) Umberto (Rispoli) was always able to keep her in her spot. Around the turn, it looked like she was traveling comfortably and was able to put a neck on those horses and had enough to finish the job nicely.”

Look Forward, winner of the seven-furlong Santa Ynez S. in early January, is now 3-1-0 in six starts and has earned $505,675 for owner Reddam Racing LLC.

Look Forward was bred in Kentucky by Woods Edge Farm, LLC & Ballyfair Bloodstock. Out of Troublesome, Look Forward is a half-sister to two-time stakes winner Amidst Waves.

Bolt d’Oro was fifth on the Fourth-Crop Sire list going into Friday’s action. With Look Forward’s win as well as Drexel Hill’s stellar second-place finish in the $1.5 million Kentucky Oaks (G1), the Spendthrift stallion is certain to improve his position on the list.