Happy Holy Bull Day! 

Strong card at Gulfstream Park today with five stakes races headlined by the Grade 3 Holy Bull. It’s a very competitive field led by Ferocious who showed a lot of promise as a two year old. 

Trivia question: The Holy Bull is the first leg of the three race sequence that comprise the Gulfstream Park portion of Kentucky Derby preps. What are the other Derby preps held at Gulfstream Park that award points for the 2025 Kentucky Derby?  

Gulfstream Park Race 10 – The Kitten’s Joy  

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

1. Enterdadragon: Won an optional claimer at Tampa last out where he was blocked in the lane but once he got in the clear he was best (75 Beyer). That was his first start without the blinkers and it worked. Should be right there with any improvement off that first start off a layoff – benefits from the inside draw. Exotics.
2. Charlie’s To Blame: Broke his maiden at Del Mar two months ago where he was sent to the lead and took them all the way (79 Beyer). Has some quick works over the Santa Anita poly track leading into this. Potential at a price.
3. Maui Strong: Ran well in the Dania Beach on the all-weather track at Gulfstream (77 Beyer). He broke slowly but made steady progress and closed nicely to get third but was no threat to Mi Bago who he faces again today. Could pick up a piece.
4. Tiz Dashing: Broke his maiden at first asking and then was very good in the Awad at the Big A but was blocked in the lane and was just missed. Johnny V stays in the irons for Barclay Tagg and Sackatoga Stables. Has been working nicely over the grass at Palm Meadows. Has speed drawn both inside and outside of his post– should be able to sit in behind that pace and pounce when asked. If he had won the Awad he’d be 8/5 today. The Pick.
5. Walking in Memphis: Wired the field in his debut at 24-1 as he just held off his stablemate. Needs to move forward off that effort but at second asking that is reasonable. Needs to be faster.
6. Test Score: Has hit the exacta in three of four career starts. Just missed in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Stakes on Breeders’ Cup Day as he had to weave through traffic (76 Beyer). Ran consistent mid-70 Beyers as a two year old. Race set up should suit with a decent amount of speed and he should get first run at them as he is fairly tactical. Using.
7. Coco Cool: Broke his maiden sprinting on the turf at Woodbine and then won an optional claimer at Turfway on the poly track (65 Beyer). Irad gets aboard for Mark Casse. Has potential.
8. Mi Bago: Has won four of his six career starts including wins in the Pulpit and Dania Beach where he wired the field in both cases posting back to back 78 Beyers. Will be sent from this outside post or else he could get shuffled back. Underlay from this post. Can do.

Picks 4-6-3-2 

Gulfstream Park Race 11 – The Holy Bull Stakes – Grade III 

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

1. Kinetic Control: Broke his maiden in his fourth start for Dale Romans at Churchill last November with a front end score (71 Beyer) where faced almost no pressure.  Romans is 0 for 39 in three year old dirt graded stakes over the past five years.  Not convinced. 
2. Ferocious: $1.3 million purchase showed promise a two year old with second in the Hopeful and Breeders Futurity which led to a start in the BC Juvenile. In the Juvenile, he was decent but had too much to do – but he kept on and got up for fifth (87 Beyer). Blinkers go ON – they want him closer. Only has three works leading into this race, which makes you wonder if he will turned all the way for this effort. Win candidate.
3. Tappan Street: Cox trainee won at first asking over this track going seven panels (84 Beyer) with a stalk and pounce trip where he was green in the lane but once he got his leads sorted out, he was flying. That maiden race has produced two next out winners. Move to two turns and extra distance should suit. Saez stays here over Guns Loaded. The Pick.
4. Guns Loaded: Wired the field in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes (79 Beyer) as this colt stretched out to the one turn mile. Got a very favorable trip that day as he set a modest pace. Irad picks up the mount here as Saez stays with Tappan Street. Wait and see.
5. He’s Not Joking: Johnny V gets in the irons for this Practical Joke colt who was very proficient on the poly track at Woodbine but didn’t show much in his one dirt try at Churchill where he got away slow and was no factor.  Show me.
6. Buring Glory: Mott trainee made three starts all at Churchill last Fall which culminated in a maiden score going the flat mile (75 Beyer). Homebred Juddmonte runner has been at Payson Park working steadily for this. Mott wins a strong 23% with three years olds off this type of layoff and is in the money 49% of the time. Player.
7. Burnham Square: Didn’t make it to the track in October but has three career starts and showed improvement in each. Last time they changed tactics and went to the front end from the inside, got a dream rail trip and drew off late (86 Beyer). That was his first start with Blinkers – which stay on today. Trickier outside post today with plenty of speed in this field which will make it difficult for him to clear the field before the first turn. Minor award.

Picks 3-6-2-7 

All Stakes Pick 4 Race 9: 6,7 Race 10: 2,3,4,6 Race 11: 2,3,6 Race 12: 3,7,9, Ticket Cost $36 

Trivia Answer: The Grade II Fountain of Youth and Grade I Florida Derby round out the three race Kentucky Derby prep sequence run at Gulfstream Park.