Southern California sprinter Bolden , a dual-surface winner who exhibited sub-1:08 six-furlong speed during his undefeated racing career, will begin stallion duties at Rancho San Miguel in 2024. The 5-year-old will stand for an introductory fee of $3,500, with a live foal guarantee.
Bred in California by Reddam Racing, Bolden sold for $100,000 to owner Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch as one of the top-priced colts at the Fasig-Tipton California Fall Yearlings Sale in 2019, with trainer Peter Miller serving as agent.
Under Miller’s conditioning, the precocious chestnut made an auspicious debut in June of his 2-year-old season, dominating rival state-breds by 5 1/2 lengths in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on dirt at Santa Anita Park.
Bolden’s next three starts were made in rich allowance optional claiming company for trainer Phil D’Amato, beginning with a six-length win on Santa Anita dirt at six furlongs. He was then switched to turf and achieved the same success: a 7 3/4-length romp in a smashing time of 1:07.50 for six furlongs on the grass at Santa Anita, followed by a 1 3/4-length grass victory as a 5-year-old at Del Mar in a brisk :55.81 for five furlongs in September. The latter race was the final race of his career.
He ran a career-best 116 Equibase Speed Figure in his Santa Anita turf romp.
Overall, Bolden won all four of his races by a combined 21 lengths and earned $177,540. He raced exclusively in maiden and allowance optional claiming company.
“Bolden is the most talented horse I have ever trained,” D’Amato said. “He was equally good on either surface.”
The strapping chestnut is by grade 1 winner Square Eddie , a son of Smart Strike who holds Santa Anita’s track record of 1:13.11 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the dirt. He is one of three winning starters out of Bas , a multiple winner by Flower Alley . Among the notable members of his family is Bold Decision , a graded-stakes performer and 5 1/2-furlong track record-setter at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Bolden is available for immediate inspection at Rancho San Miguel. He also will be part of the stallion roster featured during the farm’s open house and stallion show Jan. 20.
Rancho San Miguel, situated on 250 acres in San Luis Obispo County, is one of California’s leading stallion stations and foal nurseries. The farm has a number of diverse stallions, including Sir Prancealot , Danzing Candy , Tom’s Tribute , and Editorial .
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
