Two days after 2-year-old colt Ted Nophy’s path to the 2026 Kentucky Derby offered by Woodford Reserve was lower brief as a consequence of harm, Corridor of Fame coach Todd Pletcher seems to have discovered a succesful substitute.
He defeated 5 different 3-year-olds within the 1 1/16-mile, $267,500 G3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31, practically finishing a formidable third straight win for proprietor Centennial Farm.
Neary gained by 5 3/4 lengths in 1 minute, 44.52 seconds on a quick monitor ridden by Corridor of Fame jockey John Velasquez, making him a pure Derby candidate.
“I do not actually take into consideration this horse changing that horse,” Pletcher mentioned of his two stallions. “Nonetheless, this horse has been doing effectively by itself, so I had excessive expectations. I am pleased to have acquired this horse.”
Holy Bull awarded Kentucky Derby qualifying factors to the highest 5 finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 foundation. Neary, who grew up in Florida, scored 20 factors, placing him close to the highest of the present leaderboard. Churchill Downs officers will use qualifying factors as a precedence system if extra entries are obtained than the Derby subject’s most variety of 20 horses.
Neary, who had gained his earlier two races by a mixed margin of 14 1/4 lengths, carried out effectively on Saturday, staying on the skin of the favourite Cannonier who led with 3 wins and a couple of losses, posting occasions of twenty-two.82 seconds and 45.96 seconds underneath stress from Neary, with Neary making his first breakthrough in 1 minute 10.32 seconds over six furlongs.
Pletcher mentioned of Neary and Velasquez, “We wished to get forward going into the primary flip, not essentially within the lead, however in a superb stalking place.” “He sort of buckled on the within somewhat bit, however he recovered. These two went into the primary flip. They had been going effectively and he appeared to be in a superb rhythm.”
It was Pletcher’s third win within the Holy Bull and Velasquez’s second win within the race.
Velasquez mentioned he noticed Neary, who paid $5.40 to win, develop within the race.
“He was somewhat aggressive as we speak, which he by no means was. Often it takes him a short while to place his foot down, however as we speak he was proper there,” Velasquez mentioned. “He took it to a different degree on this race.”
Bravalo completed second and earned 10 factors to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Venture Ace completed third (6 factors) by 2 3/4 lengths from Bravalo. Cannonier took fourth place (4 factors), adopted by International Aviator (2 factors) in fifth place. The Incredivolt rounded out the placings.
Each Pletschers mentioned Neary’s subsequent begin will doubtless be within the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28. Coach Pletcher has gained the Kentucky Derby twice and the Florida Derby eight occasions. — Charlie McCarthy
