Bolo, a son of Temple City who spent his entire juvenile campaign on the turf, has emerged as a Triple Crown candidate in the deep group of Southern California-based three-year-olds.
A rallying fifth after a slow start in his debut over a mile during the Del Mar fall meet November 7, Bolo returned to action three weeks later over the same track. Dueling for the lead until the stretch, the dark brown colt emerged as best by 2 3/4 lengths over Metaboss, subsequent winner of the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.
Bolo made his final start of 2014 in the $75,000 Eddie Logan at Santa Anita on December 27. Again dueling for the lead until the quarter pole, Bolo dominated his rivals late to win by 4 1/2 lengths in the one-mile test.
The Carla Gaines trainee, who races for Golden Pegasus Racing and Earle Mack, reportedly missed training time earlier in the year due to a muscle issue. Despite having to rush to make the March 7 San Felipe at Santa Anita, Bolo acquitted himself nicely.
Racing in close attendance to front-running favorite Dortmund, Bolo took aim at that rival at the top of the stretch, hung with him briefly, and then weakened a bit approaching the wire. Bolo wound up third, 1 3/4 lengths behind Dortmund, in what proved to be an effective dirt debut. Gaines chalked up his late fatigue to the missed training time.
Bolo had a rematch with Dortmund in the April 4 Santa Anita Derby, but finished third to that rival by 6 1/2 lengths
Bolo, whose sire won over 1 1/2 miles, hails from the same female family as 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and multiple Grade 1 winner Dullahan, who ran third in the 2012 Derby.