Thinking About Bolt d’Oro

The strong performance of Wit reminds us of the greatness of Medaglia d’Oro (Wit’s broodmare sire). Yet we have not found that great son of M d’O. Mshawish seems to be a washout, and Violence has really only produced sprinters. Warriors Reward stands in Pennsylvania. Enticed is a year away. Astern could be interesting, but is maybe only a sprinter.

So there is great interest in the first crop of Bolt d’Oro. Maybe there is too much interest. There are 13 to choose from in the Saratoga sale. That must be some kind of record for a $15,000 sire. Bolt d’Oro ran well early, and tailed off quickly for extra low profile connections (trainer and owner Mick Ruis). He was a $630,000 yearling and the dam by AP Indy also produced Global Campaign (winner of $1.3 million). There is a ton of pedigree here.

Let’s rank the 13 and guess the sales price:

1. #132 – dam of Rachel Alexandra $500,000, by Roar, $1,400,000 wow !?!
2. #186 – decent Quality Road mare $300,000, first foal. C nick, $500,000
3. #144 – unraced Pioneerof the Nile mare $250,000, first foal, A++ nick, $250,000
4. #3 – ok Speightstown mare $250,000, $260,000, West Point
5. #2 – risky Empire Maker mare $250,000, $235,000 RNA
6. #146 – ok Distorted Humor mare $225,000, $550,000
7. #104 – marginal Smart Strike mare $150,000, $120,000
8. #121 – stakes winning Five Star Day mare, $125,000, $275,000
9. #64 – marginal Street Cry mare $110,000, nick is A, $145,000
10. #119 – slow Proud Citizen mare $100,000, $350,000
11. #91 – poor Take Me Out mare, $75,000, $200,000
12. #210 – ok Boston Harbor mare, $75,000, $140,000
13. #193 – unraced City Zip mare, $50,000, $135,000 RNA

These are the mares you get for a $15,000 sire. It is not a pretty group. Maybe you take a chance with the first foals with great broodmare sires #144 and #186, or pay up for #132.

To me the only interesting horse is #64. The Street Cry mare has only produced one decent runner and had several failures, so this is risky at best.

I like the concept of Bolt d’Oro, but I am not thrilled by the choice of moms. Let’s wait for Keeneland.

Bolt d’Oro is officially the new hot sire. Not often that a $15,000 sire sells for $1,400,000, even if the dam did produce Rachel Alexandra (why did they choose a $15,000 sire?)