Bolt d’Oro (photo by Jordan Sigmon).
Since the Breeders’ Cup was first held in 1984, 24 winners of the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) have been crowned Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse. Should Bolt d’Oro stretch his record to 4-for-4 in this year’s edition of the race, he would likely ensure himself the divisional championship.
Purchased for $630,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale last year, he is a son of Medaglia d’Oro out of the A. P. Indy mare Globe Trot. Bolt d’Oro debuted going 6 ½ furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 5, dueling for the lead early before pulling clear late to win by 2 ¼ lengths in a final time of 1:17.92. Put straight into Grade I company, he showed a new dimension in his second start, coming from near last to win the Del Mar Futurity (G1) by three parts of a length in a final time of 1:22.91 for the seven furlongs.
In his most recent start, Bolt d’Oro tried two turns for the first time in the FrontRunner Stakes (G1) and won by 7 ¼ lengths, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.54. He is owned by Ruis Racing LLC and trained by Mick Ruis.
Free Drop Billy (photo by Jordan Sigmon).
Likely to be the second choice in the race is the Dale Romans-trained, Albaugh Family Stable LLC-owned Free Drop Billy. The $200,000 Keeneland September purchase was a debut winner at Churchill Downs on June 15, taking a 5 ½-furlong maiden event by three lengths in a final time of 1:04.63. He then finished second in his next two starts, beaten a length by Firenze Fire in the Sanford Stakes (G3) and, then, by a short neck to Sporting Chance in the Hopeful Stakes (G1). Free Drop Billy avenged those losses in his most recent start, however, when he captured the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) by four lengths in a final time of 1:45.43.
A son of Union Rags out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Trensa, Free Drop Billy is a half-brother to the European Group 1 winner Hawkbill.
Also entered in the race for the same connections is Hollywood Star. The son of Malibu Moon cost $550,000 at the Keeneland September Sale last year and is out of multiple Grade 1 winner Hollywood Story. In three starts, he has a maiden win and second-place finishes in the Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) and the Iroquois Stakes (G3).
Winning that Iroquois was The Tabulator, who is undefeated in three starts for trainer Larry Rivelli and owner Carolyn Wilson. The son of Dialed In out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Fly to the Stars was a $460,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale.
Firenze Fire ships in from New York for trainer Jason Servis and owner Mr. Amore Stables. A debut winner at Monmouth in June, The son of Poseidon’s Warrior then won the Sanford before finishing fourth in the Hopeful. He rebounded in his most recent start, winning the Champagne Stakes by a half-length.
US Navy Flag (photo by Jordan Sigmon).
The wild card in the race is likely to be Aidan O’Brien-trained U S Navy Flag owned by Magnier, Smith and Tabor. The son of War Front has never raced on dirt, but is riding a three-race win streak that includes two Group 1 victories.
Maiden winners Hazit, Golden Dragon and Solomini and the maidens Bahamian, Givemeaminit and Good Magic round out the field.
Carded as the 10th race on the Saturday program, approximate post time for the $2,000,000 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is 3:58 pm PT.
