Thrilling San Felipe S. (G2) goes to Bolt d’Oro

Bolt d’Oro, the multiple Grade 1 winning 3-year-old who will stand at Spendthrift Farm after his racing career, added the $400,000 San Felipe S. (G2) to his resume on March 10.

Bolt d’Oro was a short head back of McKinzie on the wire, but the stewards awarded the runner-up the win after it was determined McKinze cost him the win after some bumping in deep stretch.

Bolt d’Oro was fourth in the early stages of the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe, while McKinzie was battling for the lead with Lombo. When Lombo began to fade on the final turn, Bolt d’Oro came alongside McKinzie to set the stage for the dramatic stretch drive. Both horses gave their all, with just inches separating the pair at the wire.

“I wasn’t even thinking about the inquiry the whole time,” said owner/trainer Mick Ruis. “I was just so proud of Bolt, and if he got moved up, he did. This wasn’t the race we were really pointing for. We want to go to the Santa Anita Derby (G1, April 7), but getting moved up is awesome.”

The San Felipe was Bolt d’Oro’s third graded win, following his grade 1 scores in the Del Mar Futurity and the FrontRunner Stakes in 2017. He now has a total of 64 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge Series, assuring himself a spot in the starting gate at Churchill Downs on May 5.

Bolt d’Oro now has four wins from five starts and $816,000 in earnings. He was a $630,000 purchase by Ruis Racing from Denali Stud’s consignment to the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga 2016 Select Yearling sale.