BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Bolero Bay went right to the front out of the gate then led throughout to win going away in the $100,000 English Channel Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Ridden by Sony Leon for trainer Michael Yates, Bolero Bay was the best of seven 3-year-olds who went a mile on the turf.
Leon is no stranger to big upsets on the first Saturday in May having won the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) on 80-1 shot Rich Strike in 2022.
“I feel good. This week brings back a lot of memories of that day I won the Kentucky Derby. Every year when I watch my Derby, I feel motivated, like I can do more,” Leon said. “Today, we got a stakes – it’s not the Kentucky Derby but it was a stakes win with a longshot.”
Leon hustled Bolero Bay from post five and beat odds-on favorite and fellow Florida-bred Redland Rebels to the clubhouse turn, and they continued to show the way under pressure from Redland Rebels through a half-mile in :46.44 and six furlongs in 1:10.01. Redland Rebels, My Favorite Bird and Bronze Bullet all went at the leader coming out of the far turn but were repelled when Bolero Bay accelerated again at the top of the stretch. My Favorite Bird tried again in deep stretch but Bolero Bay went on to win by a length-and-a-half in 1:33.27 on the firm turf. Florida-bred My Favorite Bird was a length-and-a-quarter ahead of Zephyros in third. Florida-bred Bronze Bullet, Knoty Knicks, Redland Rebels and Florida-bred Wayne’s Law finished in that order. A Million Dreams and Vekomasan were scratched.
Bolero Bay paid $37 to win.
It was the first stakes victory for Bolero Bay, who has now won two of his last three since taking a $25,000 maiden claiming by seven lengths on the Gulfstream Park grass on January 4. He tired in his next race at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass, finishing fifth in a $35,000 optional claiming, starter allowance on February 12 at Gulfstream. But Yates had him sharp in his next race under the same conditions going a mile-and-70-yards on synthetic on April 9 as he led from the start to win by four-and-a-half lengths.
Bolero Bay earned $56,600 and more than doubled his career bankroll to $102,170 for owner Mast Thoroughbreds. Bolero Bay’s now has won half of his six career starts.
Bred in Florida by Larry Alan Wynn, Bolero Bay is by Basin out of Essence of Audre, by Exchange Rate. He was a $15,000 purchase by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock at the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Winter Mixed Sale.
Essence of Audre, a half-sister to multiple Grade 3-winner Essence Hit Man and Grade 3-placed Eight Town, has five starters, all winners, from seven foals. Bolero Bay is a half-brother to multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred G W’s Girl, the 2025 Florida-bred Champion 3-Year-Old Filly and earner of $250,975. Essence of Audre has an unraced 2-year-old colt, Ready for the Ride, by Mitole; and a weanling filly by Nashville.
Return to the May 2 issue of Wire to Wire
