LAUREL, MD—A winter setback cost Big Bolton most of the 2026 turf season, but the gelding appears back to his best form, parlaying a press-and-pounce trip into a victory in Sunday’s co-featured seventh race, a state-bred or -sired allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 5 ½ furlongs on the Bowl Game Turf Course.
“When we had all the snow and ice, he hurt himself, so we put a lot of time and effort into rehabbing him because [trainer] Milan [Milosevic] said this is a special horse,” said breeder-owner Richie Blue Jr.
Big Bolton has familial ties, both equine and human, to the Blue crew.
Blue bred Big Bolton’s dam, Hot Friesia, and named the 3-year-old after his grandson.
“The mare is a big mare, and she produces big foals,” Blue said. “My mother’s maiden name was Bolton. One of my daughters named my grandson Bolton. I said we’re going to call [him] Big Bolton because he’s a big kid. His father played football at Yale. He’s 2 years old and looks like a 4-year-old.”
Big Bolton made a strong debut last year, winning a 5 ½-furlong maiden special weight race on good turf by 2 1/4 lengths on November 8.
“As soon as he started breezing, it was as if he were a little different and bred for the turf,” Milosevic said. “We tried to get one maiden win last year. At the end of the year, we did.”
After turf season ended last year, Big Bolton tried twice on the dirt but couldn’t replicate his grass success.
“I’m not trying dirt again,” Blue said.
Big Bolton returned to the races in September, finishing sixth after a poor start. He improved three weeks later, running a close third after setting the pace.
“He drew the one [post] both times, and the last time he had to work hard to get to the front, and then got tired at the end,” Milosevic said.
On Sunday, Big Bolton and jockey Jorge Ruiz settled just off the favored Biscuitwiththeboss, a filly facing males for trainer Brittany Russell. The fractions of 23.05 and 45.48 were solid on a course that seemed to favor speed types all week long.
Ruiz briefly glanced back inside the quarter pole, then shook the reins at Big Bolton, who responded by dispatching Biscuitwiththeboss. From there, Big Bolton did the rest, driving under the wire 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Chimney Sweep.
Reggie Runs Rogue, who returned from a 477-day layoff as a new gelding for his turf debut, stayed on to finish third, a nose behind the runner-up. Enduring Gold, Watch Out World, and the multiple stakes-placed Biscuitwiththeboss completed the order.
Big Bolton returned $6.60 as the second choice in the betting. Rye Diggitydog and Brightshininglight scratched out.
“He did it as he did in his first start,” Milosevic noted. “He’s not a headstrong horse. He likes company, too. In the mornings, he’s never going to blow them away. He’ll just cruise alongside the horses. He likes to be with them. When he was younger, he was a little spooky. That’s why he wears blinkers. He would look at things.”
Blue and Milosevic are looking forward to Big Bolton’s 4-year-old campaign, noting that he’s Virginia-certified and eligible for lucrative restricted races at Colonial Downs and for important local stakes, including next year’s Maryland Million Turf Sprint.
Big Bolton has won two of six starts and earned $72,250.
*Around the track:
Jockey Jaime Rodriguez rode two winners on Sunday’s card. Rodriguez rode in the pocket in the day’s opener aboard Cara’s Dreamweaver ($4) for trainer Jamie Ness, then used similar tactics aboard Let’s Be Frank ($3.80) in the third. Rodriguez is now one win behind Mychel Sanchez in the meet’s jockey standings.
Majorca ($5.20) ran the fastest seven furlongs of the meet in today’s fourth race, a ratings-optional claimer for 3-year-olds and up. Trained by Danny Eubanks and ridden by Angel Cruz, Majorca wired the field from the rail post position and clocked 1:22.86 on the fast track.
Live racing resumes Friday with a nine-race program. Gates open at 11 am ET, and the first post time is 12:00 pm ET. Two “Value Pick 5” wagers feature a LOW 12% takeout.
The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It features picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias information, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s handicapping team. Friday’s is available Thursday evening. Click here to view it.
Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.
Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club’s X account. Click here to watch.
Visit the Maryland Horse Library and Education Center in Reisterstown on Wednesday, November 18, from 6 to 8 pm for a special screening of “Pimlico from the Heart.” Produced by Eclipse Award-winning racing writer John Scheinmann and featuring fellow Eclipse Award-winning racing writer Vinnie Perrone, the film follows the two friends as they revisit the historic Pimlico racetrack one final time before its demolition, reminiscing about the horses, people, and events that made “Old Hilltop” so special. Reserve your spot here.