Happy Holy Bull Day! 

Gulfstream Park has four graded stakes, led by the Holy Bull, where the top five finishers will receive Kentucky Derby qualifying points (20-10-6-4-2).  

Trivia question: Name the only horse to win the Hutcheson, the Florida Derby, the Blue Grass, the Met Mile, the Dwyer, the Haskell, the Travers, and the Woodward – all in the same year. 

Gulfstream Park Race 11 – The Kitten’s Joy – Grade III 

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

1. Hammerstein: Broke his maiden last out (66 Beyer) in his first effort on the turf with a professional stalk and pounce move. By Oscar Performance (Kitten’s Joy) so no surprise he took to the turf. Inside draw should help to save ground. Minor award.
2. Edgartown: Was an OK fourth in the Dania Beach (73 Beyer) in his first start for the Graham Motion barn. He had decent position but couldn’t reel in pace setting Tocayo. Passing.
3. Tocayo: Took the field gate to wire in the Dania Beach while setting a soft pace and then quickened when asked over the final half mile for a comfortable win. Might alone in front again – but this is a tougher group. Lean against.
4. Agate Road: Won the Pilgrim last Fall at the Big A and that earned him a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf where he was an OK fifth.  In the Dania Beach he was moving best in the lane but couldn’t catch Tocayo who got away with easy fractions. Irad gets off this one and moves to Noted – Jose Ortiz picks up the mount. Maybe gets a piece.
5. Deadpan: Well-traveled son of Distorted Humor showed improvement last out in N1X company over this track last month where he dropped back to last and made one big run to finish third (77 Beyer). Has shown he stalk as well. Johnny V picks up the mount. Underneath player.
6. First World War: Back on the turf after two dirt races including a placing in the Mucho Macho Man. Broke his maiden on the turf and was a good fourth in the Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland (75 Beyer) where he was wide the whole way after breaking from the twelve hole. He’s tactical and fired a bullet last week at Palm Beach Downs last weekend. The Pick.
7. Quokka: Broke his maiden at 21-1 and came back in the Central park at 50-1 and ran a decent race but was no threat to the top ones. Demand a price.
8. Freedom Principle: Won the overnight Armed Forces Stakes on the Gulfstream synthetic track in November (74 Beyer). Breeding says turf but I would like to see him show something on the green first. Passing.
9. Noted: Last effort was a win in the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream where he showed a nice turn of foot to run down the leaders in deep stretch (77 Beyer).  That race produced three next out winners. Will need to work out a trip from this outside post. Has not finished out of the exacta in four turf starts. Win candidate.

Picks 6-9-5-1 

Gulfstream Park Race 12 – The Holy Bull Stakes – Grade III 

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

Fierceness leads the field that includes four horses coming out of the local prep, the Mucho Macho Man Stakes.  

1. Hades: Undefeated in two career starts and was dominate against Florida state breds going seven panels (84 Beyer) where he was very strong in the stretch.  Has already shown to be a versatile runner and this inside post should let him gain a tactical position. Possible at a price.
2. Inveigled: Most experienced runner in the field with five career starts. In the Much Macho Man he was stuck behind a wall of horses and had to wait before swinging wide into the clear. Ran strongly late to get within two lengths of the winner. Lean against. 
3. Otello: Was excellent in winning the Mucho Macho Man where he had to squeeze though on the rail and then wait behind horses before getting in the clear late – mature performance (76 Beyer) and the additional distance should suit. Exotics player.
4. Dancing Groom: Hasn’t shown much in the two starts since breaking his maiden in an off turf race at the Spa. Needs a big step forward to contend. Blinkers go ON. Passing.
5. No More Time: Hopped at the start of the Mucho Macho Man and that cost him position. Jose Ortiz sat chilly with him and moved three wide on the turn, he did briefly loom but flattened in the lane. Maybe a slice.
6. Domestic Product: Strong maiden win at nine furlongs (75 Beyer) led to a start in the Remsen where he threw in a clunker over a muddy strip.  But he can get the distance and might move forward in just his fourth career start. Blinkers come OFF for a runner who Chad indicated was a bit headstrong in his most recent effort. Use in vertical plays.
7. Fierceness: Recently crowned two year old Champion makes his first start of his three year old campaign.  Comes off a fantastic win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile where he dominated the field (105 Beyer). Only poor performance was in the Champagne where he hopped at the start. He’s a likely single in horizontal plays. The Pick.
8. Sea Streak: Did the dirty work in the Mucho Macho Man (75 Beyer) by pressing the pace from the outside and dug in gamely but couldn’t hold off Otello who came from further back. Needs to move forward off that effort to win but speed figs are static. Possible piece.

Picks 7-6-1-3 

Trivia Answer: Holy Bull won those eight graded stakes, five Grade Is and three Grade IIs during his three year old campaign of 1994. Two of those Grade Is, the Met Mile and Woodward, were against elders.