Happy Holy Bull Day!

Derby preps are cranking up and Gulfstream Park hosts the Holy Bull for the three year old colts along with the Grade III Forward Gal for three year old fillies. Both award 20-10-6-4-2 points for the Kentucky Derby/Oaks.

Trivia question: Who won the 2025 Holy Bull Stakes?

Gulfstream Park Race 10  The Forward Gal – Grade III

Seven Furlongs on the Dirt for Three Year Old Fillies

1. Music Burt: Broke her maiden at Churchill sprinting (69 Beyer) then moved to optional claimers and got the place money at Turfway on the poly (76 Beyer). Passing.
2. Tessellate: Has hit the board in all five career starts with three wins including the Gasparilla Stakes at Tampa (71 Beyer) going seven furlongs. Stalker type. Possible slice of the pie.
3. Secane: Won the Cash Run Stakes on New Year’s Day going the flat mile over this surface on the front end (71 Beyer). Likely race flow will work against as she is facing much faster horses. Looking elsewhere.
4. Mythical: Broke her maiden first out and then won the Tremont Stakes (93 Beyer) and the Adirondack Stakes. Couldn’t handle Tommy Jo in the Spinaway where she was part of a hot early pace. Did bounce back with wins in two Florida sire stakes (81 and 77 Beyers) as the heavy favorite. Front end runner should find a contested pace. Contender.
5. Sneaky Good: Has started with two wins from two races in her young career. In the Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa she stalked and kept coming to win comfortably (70 Beyer). Underneath.
6. On Time Girl: Has shown improvement in all four races culminating with a win in the Fern Creek Stakes (82 Beyer). Will need to carry her speed a bit further while under pressure. Probably the speed of the speed. Win candidate.
7. Hollen Drive: Two for two on fast dirt tracks including an open length win against optional claimer as she came from off the pace (70 Beyer). Lasix comes OFF. Will need to improve.
8. Imperatrice: This is a turnback for Pletcher/Velazquez as this City of Light filly broke her maiden going the flat mile at Gulfstream (75 Beyer). Should stalk/pace press from this outside post with plenty of speed to her inside. The Pick.

Picks 8-6-4-5

Gulfstream Park Race 12  The Holy Bull Stakes – Grade III

One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt for Three Year Olds

1. Incredibolt: Broke his maiden first time out going the flat mile at Churchill as he stalked the pace and moved clear at the sixteenth pole. Took on stakes company next out in the Street Sense Stakes and was impressive as he went last to first (82 Beyer). Water might be too deep,
2. Roger That Dana: Broke his maiden in a Florida bred race (69 Beyer) on the front end and then in the Mucho Macho Man he was in position but stayed on the wrong lead and finished a distant second (78 Beyer). Don’t see it.
3. Project Ace: Was cross entered in the now postponed Withers at the Big A and connections indicate he will run here. Broke his maiden in November in his third career start in an RNA restricted race as he went last to first (74 Beyer) at Churchill. Passing
4. Global Aviator: Won at first asking with an off the pace move to outdueled the favorite (85 Beyer). That was going six furlongs and he now stretches out in his second career start. Breeding indicates that the extra ground should suit. Jersey Joe stays aboard. Gets a piece.
5. Cannoneer: $1.75 million Into Mischief colt was sharp in his second career start where he broke alertly and drew off nicely going seven panels (90 Beyer). Has shown good speed and will now need to carry it around two turns. Could get loose on the lead given the scratches. Using.
6. Buetane: Baffert trainee will scratch as he didn’t fly east this week. Look for him to run at the rescheduled Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn next Friday.
7. Nearly: Broke his maiden in a Florida bred race. Came back a month ago and won impressively in an N1X contest with a nice ride by Johnny V to get into position after an issue at the break to win by five lengths under a hand ride (96 Beyer) versus a short field. Lasix comes OFF. Should love the stretch out. Bullet work leading into to this for Pletcher. The Pick.
8. Bavaro: Tries open company after breaking his maiden against NY breds (76 Beyer) and then a won the state bred Sleepy Hollow Stakes where he had to swing four wide and was much the best once in the clear (84 Beyer). Should sit a trip. Hits the board.
9. Game For It: Connections indicate he will scratch and go in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa next week. Won an RNA restricted maiden race at the Big A (67 Beyer). This would be a big class test today. Passing if he does run here.

Picks 7-8-5-4

Trivia Answer:  Burnham Square won the 2025 Holy Bull for Ian Wilkes besting Tappan Street.