After locking horns in an exciting Del Mar Futurity (G1), Bolt d’Oro and Zatter will match up again in Saturday’s $300,000 FrontRunner (G1). The well-respected juveniles highlight a nine-horse field on a stakes-packed card at Santa Anita.
A “Win & You’re In” event for the November 4 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, the 1 1/16-mile FrontRunner also serves as a qualifier in the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series and awards points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale.
Bolt d’Oro overcame a tardy start to win his career debut going away by 2 ¼ lengths and improved to 2-for-2 in the Del Mar Futurity, gamely rallying to edge Zatter in the latter stages. Purchased for $630,000 as a 2-year-old, the son of Darley stallion Medaglia d’Oro is trained by Mick Ruis and retains the services of Corey Nakatani.
Zatter won at first asking for Bob Baffert, easily defeating American Pharoah’s brother and next-out winner St. Patrick’s Day as the 8-5 favorite, and launched a bold move off the far turn to take the lead in the Del Mar Futurity before just missing. By Hill ‘n’ Farms’ Midnight Lute, the $160,000 yearling figures to show speed from his innermost post with Rafael Bejarano.
Baffer, who leads all trainers with seven FrontRunner wins, will also send out Solomini, a good-looking debut scorer at Del Mar on September 2. Flavien Prat rides the Curlin colt. Encumbered will go turf-to-dirt for Simon Callaghan, breaking his maiden the second-time out on sod and winning the Del Mar Turf Juvenile most recently. Mario Gutierrez guides the late runner.
Ayacara and City Plan exit maiden wins and Texas Wedge will step up to face stakes foes after recording a field-best 95 BRIS last-out Speed rating defeating $50,000 maiden claimers in his first outing. California-bred stakes winner Continental Divide will test open company following a fourth as the favorite in the September 1 I’m Smokin at Del Mar. Take the One O One, who exits an unplaced effort in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf, completes the field.
