Corona Bolt too much for his rivals to handle in the Lafayette (JennyPhoto/Past The Wire)
Keeneland Press Release/Edited
LEXINGTON, Ky.— In the $400,000 Lafayette for three-year-olds, Corona Bolt remained perfect in sprints by turning back favored Hejazi by a length after a stretch-long duel.
Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Corona Bolt covered the 7 furlongs over a fast track in 1:23.21.
Corona Bolt took the lead out of the gate and was quickly joined by Hurricane J to his outside and then Hejazi racing three wide through an opening quarter mile in :22.28.
Approaching the far turn, Hurricane J began to retreat, leaving Corona Bolt and Hejazi on even terms through a half-mile in :44.80. The two matched strides through the stretch until the sixteenth pole, when Corona Bolt began to ease away for his fourth sprint victory.
Corona Bolt, a Florida-bred son of Bolt d’ Oro out of the Quiet American mare Stormbeforethecalm, is a Keeneland sales graduate and now a winner of four of five career starts.
The victory was worth $181,350 and increased Corona Bolt’s earnings to $356,400.
Send off as the second choice, Corona Bolt returned $6.82, $3.52 and $2.90. Hejazi, ridden by John Velazquez, returned $2.88 and $2.64 and finished 2½ lengths in front of Freezing Point, who paid $7.16 to show under Gerardo Corrales.
It was another 4½ lengths back to Lugan Knight with Gulfport, Determinedly and Hurricane J following in order.
