Happy Holy Bull Day! 

With the Big A closed today due to extreme cold our eyes turn to South Florida.  The top five finishers in the Holy Bull will receive Kentucky Derby qualifying points (20-8-6-4-2) – which is double the value that this race had last year. 

Gulfstream Park Race 11 – The Sweetest Chant Stakes – Grade III 

One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf for Three Year Old Fillies  

1. Sweetlou’sgotaces: Broke her maiden going two turns by wiring the field in the Tepin Stakes the Big A going the two turn mile (84 Beyer).  That was her fourth career start, and she was still a bit green and spent half the stretch on the wrong lead but still easily handled the field. Rosario should be sending from this inside post, and she should be all alone on the front end. Come and catch me. The Pick.
2. Padma: Today will be the first turf race after three dirt efforts that included a second in the Cash Run Stakes. Has employed a stalking running style on the dirt. Mott is only 8% with three year olds going dirt to turf. She might pick up a piece late.
3. Malleymoo: Broke her maiden on the poly track in Ireland and then was a fast closing second over this surface going seven and half furlongs. Speed figs are a bit lacking, but she’ll be running late. Exotics player.
4. Metaphysical: Broke her maiden in an off the turf affair going a mile and sixteenth on the main track and then followed that up with a strong second in N1X company (67 Beyer) in a return to the turf. Speed figs are lacking. Too tough today.
5. Alpha Bella: She had a nice inside out trip in her first turf effort to break her maiden in her fourth career start (70 Beyer). Jumps to graded stakes company off that win and will need to step forward to compete here. Water is too deep.
6. Bulsara: Has won two of her last three starts – both of those were on the all weather surface at Gulfstream.  She did run a decent fourth in the Tepin stakes at the Big A, but she might just be a polytrack specialist. Looking elsewhere.
7. Cairo Consort: Has hit the board in five of six turf starts and was an OK fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly Turf last Fall (79 Beyer). Pletcher took over this filly before her last outing and she had a nice stalking trip to win the Ginger Brew over this surface (73 Beyer). She can win – but the price will be short, Repole/Pletcher/Irad. Likely underlay.
8. Heavenly Sunday: Two for two so far in her short career and she had a nice win in N1X company last Fall at Keeneland.  Looked very strong late as she put away that field. Eligible for a move forward here off a three month layoff. Contender. 
9. Stephanie’s Charm: Was only a half-length behind Cairo Consort last out. Has yet to win on the turf but has been close in the last two efforts. She’ll need to work a trip. Passing. 

Picks 1-8-7-2 

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

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

1. Lord Miles: Broke his maiden at first asking sprinting at Gulfstream then came back with a good third in the Mucho Macho Man on New Year’s Day going the flat mile (71 Beyer). He should like more ground given how he rolled down the stretch. Blinkers go ON and they should help keep him closer – so should Irad in the irons. Win candidate.
2. West Coast Cowboy: Broke his maiden over a sloppy surface and came back to run an OK fourth in N2L race going a mile – just ran on evenly in the stretch, and didn’t appear to want more ground. Too much, too soon.
3. Shadow Dragon: Mott trained New York bred tries open company for the first time today. Defeated state breds at first asking (52 Beyer) and then was no match in the Sleepy Hollow going the flat mile. Has been off since early October. Steady works at Payson Park in advance of this. Would need a big time upgrade on the speed figs. Looking elsewhere.
4. Cyclone Mischief: Dale Romans trained colt comes off a win over this surface going the flat mile a month ago. Professional performance where he tipped out turning for home and buried the field in the stretch (90 Beyer).  Lasix comes OFF.  Ran well two back in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes where he led but was swamped in the final sixteenth. May have been moved early that day. Trainer Stat: Dale Romans is 0/34 in three year old dirt stakes over the past three years. Underlay.
5. Mr. Bob: Was an OK sixth last out in the Mucho Macho Man (65 Beyer) after trailing the field on the backstretch he made a strong run over the last half mile and looked like he wanted more ground. Blinkers go ON to keep him closer. Demand a price.
6. Legacy Isle: Shackleford colt has been first under the wire in all three starts. Last out he went to the front in the Mucho Macho Man and took them the whole way (72 Beyer) but was DQed for interference in deep stretch. He has also won when rating. Trainer Stat: Rohan Crichton wins at a 6% clip in stakes races but hits the board at a 29% rate. Exotics. 
7. Il Miracolo: Longshot runner for Antonio Sano broke his maiden in his fourth effort by getting to the front and making every pole a winning one.  Has made two stakes starts since then in the Remsen and the Mucho Macho Man – not much to report from either effort. Not today.
8. Rocket Can: Second Mott runner ran well this Fall breaking his maiden on a sloppy track (78 Beyer) at Churchill and then ran a very good second in N1X company (82 Beyer).  Both of those efforts were at today’s distance.  He has shown he knows to sit and then battle when asked. Outside post can be a problem – but this one has shown to be tactical enough to gain position. The Pick. 

Picks 8-1-6-4