Bolt d’Oro Colt pulls through to wide draw, wins ‘TDN Rising Star’ Nod on Churchill debut
Armani (c, 2, Bolt d’Oro – Beautissimo, by Uncle Mo), a March purchase of OBS for $600,000 (: 9 4/5) by Kaleem Shah, got through a very wide draw on post 10 to earn ‘Rising star TDN’ had the honor of wearing five coats at the launch at Churchill Downs Thursday night.
The 8-5 favorites didn’t get off to a great start as they broke through behind and darted from the outside to give a fourth chase as they headed into the far corner. Four wide and moving closer to the fourth post, he got a narrow advantage in the half and equalized easily after a couple of Martin Garcia lefties to win by 2 1/2 lengths . Long shot Eakly (Caleb’s Posse) came in second. Arman became the seventh and first winner ‘Rising Star’ for his hot freshman boy (by Medaglia d’Oro).
Arman is one of 49 Bolt d’Oro minors reported to have sold for $500,000 or more this year.
The Shah, in the hands of Churchill Downs, named the promising bay after his son Arman.
“My team absolutely loved the horse, so I decided to name it after my son,” Shah said on the FS2 broadcast ‘America’s Day at the Races’.
“So there’s a lot of pressure on the team,” he added with a laugh. “Arman ran, I have to show up for the race.”
The Florida breed was born Beautissimo (Uncle Mo), a half-sister with a winning-rated and multi-rated dirt router Two Thirty Five (Stay Thirsty). Beautissimo brought in $50,000 from Trackside Farms at the November 2018 Sale in Keeneland. She is also responsible for the underrated poem The Melodies of the 3-year-old Ponies (Tonalist) and a puppy of Vino Rosso in 2021. Beautissimo was bred to Goldencents in 2022.
This is the extended female clan of the Halfbridled champion (Impossible).
5th-Churchill Downs, $120,000, MswLength, 6-23, 2yo, 5f,: 58.14, ft, 2 1/2.
ARMAN, c, 2, by Bolt d’Oro
First Dam: Beautissimo, by Uncle Mo
2nd dam: A Footstep Away, by Giant’s Causeway
3rd Smash: Stay Halfway, by Seeking Gold
Sales history: $52,000 RNA Ylg ’21 OBSOCT; $600,000 2 years 22 OBSMAR. Lifetime record: 1-1-0-0, $35,560. Click to view Equibase.com chart or VIDEO sponsored by TVG. Click to view Free Equineline.com catalog style genealogy.
O-Kaleem Shah, Inc.; B-Loren Nichols (FL); T-Simon Callaghan.
