Gulfstream Park opens the all the time influential prep sequence for the Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve on Saturday with 37 horses.th execution of holy bull stakes. The 1 1/16 Mile Stakes for 3-year-old horses at Gulfstream’s Dust Monitor will award $275,000 in prize cash and a complete of 42 factors to qualify for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Could 2, with the highest 5 horses break up in a 20-10-6-4-2 order. The Holy Bull shall be adopted by the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on February twenty sixth and the Curlin Florida Derby on March twenty eighth, finishing Gulfstream’s Kentucky Derby Prep Collection.
This 12 months’s Holy Bull has a stable area of horses, together with graded stakes winner Incredibold in addition to “scorching” horses Cannonier and Neary from the stables of Brad Cox and Todd Pletcher, respectively. Along with being broadcast on FanDuel TV, the race may also be streamed reside on NBC’s Peacock platform as a part of NBC’s 1/ST Racing Tour. Posting time is ready for five:45 PM ET.
Learn beneath for Holy Bull candidates and playing insights.
1. Incredivolt
Jockey: Jaime Torres
coach: Riley Mott
Proprietor: pin oak studs
Work historical past: 3 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 third place
Profession earnings: $196,181
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 94
Kentucky Derby factors: 10
Pedigree: Bolt d’Oro – Sapphire Spitfire, Superior Once more
coloration: darkish bay or brown
Operating model: stalker/nearer
evaluation: Incredibold is the one horse on this 12 months’s Holy Bull runners to have already earned Kentucky Derby qualifying factors, having performed so in his closing race of 2025, the Road Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs on October twenty sixth. He bounced again strongly within the straights to win the 1 1/16-mile Road Sense by 1 3/4 lengths and earn 10 Derby factors. He posted an equally spectacular two-length rating in his first one-turn mile race at Churchill in late September. Since that victory, the Borto d’Oro colt has flown a bit below the radar in comparison with different Kentucky Derby hopefuls who’ve received latest stakes races. He has been coaching steadily in South Florida for Riley Mott and might be Mott’s first Derby candidate. His father Invoice has received the Derby twice, together with final 12 months’s race with Sovereignty. If he continues the development he is proven in his final two begins as a 3-year-old, Incredivolt shall be a serious addition to Holy Bull.
2. Roger That Dana
Jockey: renzo rojas
coach: Luis Ramirez
Proprietor: smith ranch stables
Work historical past: 3 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $103,200
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 82
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Superior Slew – Take Me to Zuber, by Toccet
coloration: bay
Operating model: press tempo/stalker
evaluation: Native favourite Roger That Dana received his debut in a six-furlong dash at Gulfstream Park in October, then completed third by 10 1/4 lengths within the Florida-bred 1 1/16-mile Gulfstream Stakes and second by 6 3/4 lengths to Commandment within the 1-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes on the identical observe on January 3. Two slender losses in stakes races don’t bode nicely for Roger That Dana’s probabilities of successful as he steps up in Saturday’s class. In the meantime, that is the house of Roger That Dana, and it is the right alternative for his connections to see if they’ve sufficient expertise to leap into the Kentucky Derby highway. He achieved his first victory within the dash, the place he led from begin to end, so I hope he’ll be capable to add to the tempo within the early phases.
3. Challenge Ace
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
coach: dale romance
Proprietor: Albaugh Household Stables
Work historical past: 3 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $77,245
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 83
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Conflict of Wills – Written by Loads O’Toole, Tiznow
coloration: bay
Operating model: close by
evaluation: The colt will make his stakes debut after exhibiting enchancment in every of his three begins for coach and U.S. Senate candidate Dale Romans in Kentucky. Challenge Ace completed a distant third in his six-furlong debut at Churchill Downs, however at Keeneland in October, he narrowly missed the race at 1 1/16 miles, closing in shut alongside the rail and dropping by a nostril. He made his subsequent begin at Churchill Downs on November 15, coming from final place and rallying alongside the within once more to win the 1 1/16-mile race by a head. The Challenge Ace, who has been coaching in Florida for the previous few weeks, is profiled as a stone-cold nearer who wants quick tempo and trouble-free outings to arrange his kicks. It’s unlikely that he’ll end within the high three within the chase within the closing phases, however there’s a excessive likelihood that he’ll win.
4. International Aviator
Jockey: joe bravo
coach: Rohan Crichton
Proprietor: Particular Aviators (Rohan Crichton)
Work historical past: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 second – 0 third
Profession earnings: $24,000
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 80
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: International Marketing campaign – Frisco Woman, High quality Street
coloration: darkish bay or brown
Operating model: stalker
evaluation: Proprietor and coach Rohan Crichton plans to offer the colt a one-shot begin within the Holy Bull Stakes, successful the six-furlong opening race at Gulfstream on November twenty ninth. International Aviator received away with a sluggish begin in that race, trailing the sector early earlier than getting into the fray with an eye catching transfer within the nook, taking the lead within the straight and taking the odds-on favourite by a large margin. The International Marketing campaign stallion has a pedigree that reveals he’s greatest suited to sprints and one-mile races, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see how veteran jockey Joe Bravo (who rode him to his debut win) rides him as he returns from a two-month break and stretches round two corners. He is an enormous man and might want to enhance considerably to drag off an upset of Holy Bull.
5. Gunner
Jockey: Airado Ortiz Jr.
coach: brad cox
Proprietor: St Elias Stables and Stonestreet Stables
Work historical past: 2 begins – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $81,300
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 99
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Catch the Moon, Malibu Moon
coloration: bay
Operating model: pacesetter
evaluation: Regardless of having by no means raced in a stakes or two-turn race, Cannonier ranks excessive on the Kentucky Derby prospect books and lots of analysts’ shortlists, and will very nicely be the after-time favourite within the Holy Bull. Expectations have been excessive for the offspring of main sire Into Mischief for over a 12 months. The horse was bought as a yearling for $1.75 million and was a heavy favourite in his debut at Churchill Downs final summer season. After battling for the lead in a five-and-a-half furlong sprint in that race, Cannonier drained and slowly collapsed and didn’t make his second begin till after Churchill’s November race. However in that race, he turned heads on the observe with an explosive soar of seven 1/4 lengths within the 7-furlong race, turning heads on each machine. The horse is a half-brother to Preakness Stakes runner-up Midnight Bourbon, Haskell Invitational Stakes, and Louisiana Derby winner Garvin, and has a pedigree that may deal with route races simply, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode him in November, continues to experience Holy Bull. Cannonier managed the tempo with a landslide victory, and Ortiz Jr. is predicted to undertake the identical technique in a racetrack the place Gulfstream’s pace is advantageous. Tune in Saturday at 6pm ET to seek out out if the hype surrounding this stallion is justified.
6. Buetan (withdrawal)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
coach: bob baffert
Proprietor: Zedan Horse Racing Steady
Work historical past: 3 starters – 1 win – 2 seconds – third place 0
Profession earnings: $148,000
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 96
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Tiz the Legislation – Taboo, by Forestry
coloration: chestnut
Operating model: stalker
evaluation: Buetan is scheduled to run Saturday within the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, a prelude to the Kentucky Derby, and Horse Racing Nation reported on Jan. 26 that the California-based stallion, who has began in three races and completed second in two graded stakes, won’t be transported to Gulfstream Park for Holy Bull attributable to a canceled flight.
7.Virtually
Jockey: John Velasquez
coach: tod plecher
Proprietor: Centennial Farms
Work historical past: 3 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 third place
Profession earnings: $78,950
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 92
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Not this time – Ib Prospecting, by Mineshaft
coloration: darkish bay or brown
Operating model: stalker
evaluation: Though he has acquired virtually no consideration from Kentucky Derby analysts as Cannonier, buzz about this stallion is quickly growing and he has an opportunity to make a splash in Saturday’s front-runner rankings. The Florida colt, Not This Time, completed sixth in New York in his October debut, however improved dramatically after being despatched to Gulfstream Park in November, successful the state’s offspring by 9 1/4 lengths in a six-furlong dash after which successful the seven-furlong allowance race by 5 lengths. Neary was hit onerous early within the allowance race on January 2, however then bounced again and took the win below coach John Velasquez. The Corridor of Fame rider is scheduled to experience most Saturdays and can probably be inside vary of pacesetter Cannonier. He has a house observe benefit over his rivals and has loads of room to enhance his climbing pace numbers after beginning his profession fourth.
8. Bravalo
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
coach: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Proprietor: Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, Paul Braverman
Work historical past: 2 begins – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $154,000
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 90
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Upstart – Opera Star, written by Tamarkuz
coloration: bay
Operating model: stalker
evaluation: The New York-bred horse enters the race undefeated in two races and is attracting consideration as an attention-grabbing longshot for Holy Bull. Each occasions occurred finally fall’s Belmont at Massive A (Suidobashi), the place Bravalo received the six-furlong dash by one size after which received the one-mile Sleepy Hole Stakes by two and a half lengths. These wins got here in opposition to New York-bred gamers, so he’ll be a step up in school Saturday. In the meantime, he’s being skilled by regionally primarily based Safi Joseph Jr. and has been working steadily for Joseph on the close by Palm Meadows Coaching Heart. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who received the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes with Joseph and Skippy Longstocking at Gulfstream on January 24, ought to have Bravalo sitting mid-pack at Holy Bull and in good place to take the lead on the far flip. Even with the primary lack of his profession, this horse has an opportunity to carry out nicely sufficient to earn Kentucky Derby factors and a shot at extra useful prep races within the coming weeks.
9. Sport for It (with scratches)
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
coach: Chad Summers
Proprietor: Gold Sq., Winstay, Chad Summers
Work historical past: 1 begin – 1 win – 0 second – 0 third
Profession earnings: $38,500
Prime numbers for equal base pace: 71
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Recognized Agenda – Manahatta, Previous Normal
coloration: chestnut
Operating model: press tempo/stalker
evaluation: Like Bravalo, Sport For It’s a New York shipper who may also be making a prestigious begin to his profession within the Holy Bull Stakes alongside International Aviator. Sport For It raced at Aqueduct on December tenth and had a formidable debut, rallying after a stumbling begin to win the six-furlong dash over the odds-on favourite by half a size. The colt, out of 2021 Florida Derby winner Recognized Agenda, has been coaching in Florida for the previous few weeks with coach and co-owner Chad Summers and has the pedigree to run the 1 1/16 mile. however, maiden Competing in a stakes race on the Kentucky Derby Path is formidable to say the least. Sport For It might want to enhance his debut pace numbers by about 25 factors to drag off an upset. replace: David Grening of the Each day Racing Kind reported on January 26 that Chad Summers stated Sport For It is going to probably miss the Holy Bull Stakes and intention for one more preparation for the Kentucky Derby.
First time racing? Let me clarify…
A maiden race is a race restricted to unbeaten horses. There are two principal kinds of maiden races. The primary particular weight race normally selects horses which can be extra useful to the proprietor and have more cash. Maiden Declare Races are bought to non-winners and could be bought or “claimed” by new house owners who safe possession previous to working the race.
