Meet the Contenders: Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park | Saturday, February 1, 2025

Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown trail preps in Florida, New York and California dot the map this Saturday. Gulfstream Park’s Grade 3 $265,000 Holy Bull Stakes at 1-1/16 miles is the track’s first two-turn prep on the Florida Derby path.

Horseplayers at 1/ST BET and Xpressbet be sure to take advantage of the up to $10 money-back special if your win bet finishes second or third in the key Derby preps. In addition to the Holy Bull, the promo also is good for Aqueduct’s Withers Stakes and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.

Let’s meet the contenders for Saturday’s Holy Bull (Race 11):

#1-KINETIC CONTROL: Trainer Dale Romans comes in hot with 3 straight Gulfstream victories between last Saturday and Sunday’s cards. Churchill Downs fourth-start maiden breaker Nov. 22 is set to make his first start of the year. Sired by the Romans-trained Not This Time. Jockey Junior Alvarado is a 2-time Holy Bull winner (Mohaymen ’16, Rocket Can ’23).

#2-FEROCIOUS (pictured): Smashing Saratoga debut winner for Gustavo Delgado raced exclusively in Grade 1 stakes for the rest of 2024. Runner-up in the Hopeful and Breeders’ Futurity before a mid-flight fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Barn knows the way to Louisville having won the 2023 Kentucky Derby with Mage. Jockey Javier Castellano owns a pair of Holy Bull victories (Algorithms ’12, Audible ’18). Ferocious, a $1.3 million 2-year-old purchase by Flatter, will race with blinkers on for the first time on Saturday.

#3-TAPPAN STREET: Dec. 28 debut winner expected to vie for favoritism as he rises into his first stakes. Trainer Brad Cox saddles the $1 million yearling purchase by Into Mischief, who is out of a half-sister to Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante winner Grace Adler. Luis Saez guided 2014 Holy Bull winner Cairo Prince. Saez hops off stakes winner Guns Loaded to take the seat aboard Tappan Street on Saturday.

#4-GUNS LOADED: Wire-to-wire winner of the 1-turn mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 4 to kick off the Florida Derby series. Jose D’Angelo trainee makes his first start around 2 turns after winning 2 of his first 3 overall. Son of Pegasus World Cup and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Gun Runner. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the mount, replacing Luis Saez, who opts for Tappan Street in the Holy Bull.

#5-HE’S NOT JOKING: Grade 3 Grey Stakes winner at Woodbine on the Tapeta surface seeks his first win on dirt. Uncompetitive eighth at Churchill Downs last out in his only dirt try, beaten 10-1/2 lengths in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. John Velazquez’s lone Holy Bull win came in 1997 aboard Arthur L. Josie Carroll trains the Practical Joke colt.

#6-BURNING GLORY: Rallying 1-turn mile maiden breaker in his third start Dec. 1 at Churchill Downs. First start away from Louisville will be his first stakes test as well. Trainer Bill Mott won this race 2 years ago with Rocket Can. Tyler Gaffalione piloted ’22 Holy Bull winner White Abarrio. Juddmonte home-bred by Into Mischief is out of a half-sister to the star racing and broodmare Close Hatches.

#7-BURNHAM SQUARE: Nine-length maiden breaker Dec. 28 at Gulfstream Park in his third lifetime start. Won over the Holy Bull’s distance while racing with blinkers for the first time in that breakout performance. Ian Wilkes trains the Whitman homebred by Liam’s Map out of their star mare Linda, a Grade 2 winner routing on turf. Edgard Zayas was aboard in his last win and returns.

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