MILLIONAIRE DORTMUND TO TRY TURF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN GI KILROE MILE

By Mike Willman —-

BOLO, WHAT A VIEW & CONQUEST ENFORCER HEAD DYNAMIC GRADE I, $400,000 FRANK E. KILROE MILE ON SATURDAY; MILLIONAIRE DORTMUND TO TRY TURF FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 5-YEAR-OLD DEBUT FOR SHERMAN

ARCADIA, Calif. (March 8, 2017)—Separated by three quarters of a length when last they met, the Carla Gaines-conditioned Bolo will square off again with Kenny Black’s What a View and Phil D’Amato’s Conquest Enforcer as they head a field of seven older horses in Saturday’s Grade I, $400,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile (turf) at Santa Anita. A winner of the 2015 Grade I Santa Anita Derby, Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund has impeccable main track credentials but will try turf for the first time in what will also be his initial start for trainer Art Sherman.

Named for the late Frank E. (Jimmy) Kilroe, Santa Anita’s innovative, longtime Director of Racing, the Kilroe will be run for the 58th time on Saturday.

BOLO: A striking physical specimen who’s blessed with a long stride, Bolo, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred horse by Temple City, was ridden to perfection by Mike Smith in the Grade II, one mile turf Arcadia Stakes on Feb. 11, as Smith allowed his mount to idle a quarter mile from home and called upon him the final furlong to just get up by a head over What a View, who had defeated him in last year’s Kilroe. Owned by Golden Pegasus Racing, Inc. and Earle I Mack, LLC, Bolo has three wins and a second from five tries at a mile on turf and should be extremely tough to beat on Saturday. With an overall mark of 13-5-1-2, he has earnings of $614,045.

WHAT A VIEW: A sharp second two starts back in the California Cup Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles, this 6-year-old California-bred gelding by Vronsky wheeled back on short notice to just miss in the Grade II Arcadia at one mile on turf Feb. 11. Sent to the early lead by Tyler Baze, he appeared to have vanquished Bolo at the top of the lane, but was tagged by a head right on the money, leaving a bewildered Baze to lament, “We just can’t beat Mike Smith.” That said, What a View, who was a runaway winner of last year’s edition and has four wins and a second from nine tries at the Kilroe distance, would appear to have a big look on Saturday as Baze will attempt to ration his speed. Owned by Finish Line Racing, LLC, the Elwood Johnston Trust and Taste of Victory Stables, What a View is 17-6-4-0 overall with earnings of $683,326.

CONQUEST ENFORCER: An emphatic gate to winner of the Grade II, Mathis Brothers Mile (turf) two starts back on Dec. 26, he tired just a bit late in the Grade II Arcadia, finishing third, beaten three quarters of a length by Bolo, in what was his third start for Phil D’Amato. Although he actually took a short lead a furlong out, What a View battled back gamely to his inside and Bolo came flying wide-out to get the money in a thriller. Ridden by Flavien Prat and favored in both of his local starts, Conquest Enforcer, a 4-year-old Ontario Canadian-bred colt by Into Mischief, has two wins and a third from four starts at a mile on turf and is 9-5-0-3 overall. Owned by Loooch Racing Stables, Inc., Imaginary Stables and Raquel Ritchie, he has earnings of $504,640.

DORTMUND: This striking chestnut son of Big Brown would appear to be the biggest question mark on the Saturday afternoon card. Although he was also nominated to the Grade I, seven furlong Triple Bend Stakes Saturday, he will instead be trying turf for the first time in the Kilroe and although Big Brown was a stakes winner on grass, no one knows if Dortmund, who’s been idle since running fourth as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 4, will be as effective on the lawn as he has been on dirt. Adding to the uncertainty is the fact he’ll be making his first start for Art Sherman and be ridden for the first time by Victor Espinoza. Originally trained by Bob Baffert, he has shown consistent brilliance on the main track, running into the likes of California Chrome, American Pharoah and Beholder over the course of 14 lifetime starts. Owned by Kaleem Shah, he’s 14-8-2-2 overall, with earnings of $1,982,480.

THE GRADE I FRANK E. KILROE MILE WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 9 of 11 Approximate post time 4:00 p.m. PT

1. Bal a Bali—Javier Castellano—120
2. Flamboyant—Brice Blanc – 120
3. Bolo—Mike Smith—122
4. Dortmund—Victor Espinoza—120
5. Ring Weekend—Rafael Bejarano – 122
6. Conquest Enforcer—Flavien Prat—122
7. What a View—Tyler Baze—122

Be sure to tune into XBTV on Saturday at www.xbtv.com/watch-live/ from any mobile device or computer. The XBTV team will feature live, on-site coverage all day long on Santa Anita Handicap Day, and Gulfstream Park bonus coverage will be provided as well.

Fans can watch video of Kilroe workers at www.xbtv.com/video-on-demand/workouts/.
Special early first post time for an 11-race card on Saturday is at 12 noon. Admission gates will open at 10 a.m. For scratches, changes and complete morning line information, please visit: www.santaanita.com/horse-racing/live-racing/.

Cover Photo: Dortmund; Benoit

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