Promising Sophomores Go in Holy Bull Stakes
The early Run for the Florida Derby picks up steam with a pair of stake races at South Florida’s Gulfstream Park.
Nearly two-dozen 3-year-olds were nominated for Saturday’s 20th running of the $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes, named for the 1994 Florida Derby winner.
Two years ago, Nobiz Like Shobiz won when the race was worth $90,000 and the distance was a mile. The son of Albert the Great skipped the Florida Derby and finished a fading 10th in the 133rd Kentucky Derby.
His granddaddy, Go for Gin, won in ’94 when the race was called the Preview Stakes and the distance was 1 1/16 miles. I was there when favored Holy Bull swallowed his palate and finished off the board.
That year Holy Bull got revenge winning the Florida Derby by 5 ¾ lengths, running the fastest 1 1/8 miles since Spectacular Bid in ’79, while Go for Gin finished fourth.
I hit the exacta with Ride the Rails underneath that returned a surprising $58.40 for $2.
The rivalry was renewed in the 120th Kentucky Derby won by Go for Gin while Holy Bull finished 12th after breaking slowly in the slop, being carried wide on the first turn and tiring badly.
However, Holy Bull got the last laugh. After missing the remaining two legs of the Triple Crown, the son of Great Above scored five straight times and earned top 3-year-old and Horse of the Year honors.
This year’s Holy Bull at 1 1/8 miles features several promising sophomores despite the likely favorite Big Drama forced to delay his ’09 debut because of a minor injury. The son of Montbrook has five consecutive triumphs, including the $750,000 Delta Jackpot on Dec. 5 and a sweep of the three-race ’08 Florida Stallion Stakes at Calder.
West Side Bernie, runner-up to Big Drama in the Delta Jackpot, is among the chief contenders. The son of Bernstein, sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile at Turfway Park last fall.
The favorite’s role probably will fall to Beethoven, going for his third straight victory after winning the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs on Nov. 29.
The son of Sky Mesa’s running style during recent workouts mirrors his recent races – he gradually picks up speed along the backstretch, sticks close to the rail on the turn and kicks it into gear straightening for the stretch run.
The colt is owned by John Oaxley and trained by John Ward Jr., the same combo that won the ’01 Florida and Kentucky derbies with Monarchos.
Beethoven on Jan. 24 worked five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 at Gulfstream, his fourth breeze at the track since Dec. 26.
Unbeaten Danger to Society already has scored a 3 ½-length victory in a Gulfstream allowance contest on Jan. 8 at the distance, beating several foes running in the Holy Bull. The colt broke his maiden in a route at Churchill Downs last fall.
The son of Harlan’s Holiday, runner-up to Booklet in the ’02 Holly Bull before taking the Florida Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Gulfstream on Jan. 24. Robby Albarado retains the mount. Kenneth McPeek’s trainee looks like the winner.
The field will include Bear’s Rocket, a two-time victor on synthetic surfaces in ’08; Stately Character, who captured the Foolish Pleasure Stakes at Calder last year; and one-time winners Bruce N Autumn, Idol Maker, Nowhere to Hide and Rockland.
On Friday, seven 3-year-olds square off in the 56th running of the $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at seven furlongs. The likely betting choices won a stakes last fall: Break Water Edison and Capt. Candyman Can.
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