Holy Bull

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Saturday’s $150,000 Holy Bull S. (G3) is the first of three 1 1/8-mile stakes races at Gulfstream Park leading to the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Hutcheson S. (G2), also
for three-year-olds, will be decided earlier on the card around one turn at 7
1/2 furlongs. Horses that run well in either the Holy Bull or Hutcheson could
make their next start in either the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) or the
seven-furlong Swale S. (G2) on March 5. Those two races are stepping stones to
the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on April 2, which is scheduled five weeks
before the Run for the Roses.

HIGH FLY (Atticus), the sensational winner of the Aventura S. in his last
race, will make his first start around two turns in the Holy Bull and easily
rates our top choice. The Bill White-trained colt won his first two starts by 9
1/4 and three lengths, respectively, last fall at Calder. In his second
start, an entry-level allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs, High Fly broke a step
slow, prompted the pace along the rail, then drew off under no encouragement
from his rider, who was constantly looking back for the other horses.

In the Aventura, High Fly slammed into DRUM MAJOR (Dynaformer) shortly after
the start, was crowded early, then worked his way into a clear outside
position down the backstretch of the one-mile test. The chestnut stalked a pair
of foes while three wide around the turn, took the lead on his own in the upper
stretch, then exploded with a burst of speed through the final furlong, drawing
off by nine lengths at the wire while earning a 108 BRIS Speed rating. High Fly
is well drawn on the outside for a clear stalk-and-roll trip, and we expect him
to remain unbeaten, and perhaps, untested in the Holy Bull.

Drum Major was hung out to dry around the second turn in the 1 1/16-mile
Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs in his two-year-old finale. In
the Aventura, the dark bay was checked at the start, then made a nice four-wide move
around the second turn before chasing High Fly home. After the race, jockey Jose
Santos lodged an objection against High Fly and jockey Eddie Castro for the
incident at the start, which was disallowed. The George Weaver-trained colt
figures to move forward and rates our sleeper to complete the exacta (again). He
should offer good value at 10-1 on the morning line.

The up-and-coming DEAREST MON (Maria’s Mon) will likely be the “wise-guy”
horse with Jerry Bailey aboard. The dark bay made a nice three-wide move around
the turn before running down Hutcheson entrant Devil at Sea (Devil His Due)
going seven furlongs over this surface in his last start. Dearest Mon broke his
maiden by a widening three lengths at Aqueduct in his prior outing over Noble
Causeway (Giant’s Causeway), who is the logical favorite in Saturday’s 4TH race. The
Richard Violette Jr.-trained Dearest Mon has been firing bullets in the morning,
but will be
making his two-turn and stakes debut in this spot. A threat for all the marbles,
but a possible underlay as well.

In his first start for conditioner Stanley Hough, CRIMINAL MIND
(Cryptoclearance) made a quick inside-to-outside move around the second turn,
then closed determinedly for runner-up honors behind the highly regarded
Harlington (Unbridled) at this distance in his last start. That race was over a
sloppy track, so if his performance was a result of improvement and not track
condition, he has longshot potential for the exotics.

Churchill Downs maiden winner KANSAS CITY BOY (Boston Harbor) forced the
early issue, took the lead between calls turning for home, then finished gamely
for third, beaten a half-length, in the two-turn, one-mile LeComte S. (G3) at
Fair Grounds in his last start. The Kenny McPeek trainee figures to be an early
pace player, but has class questions against some of these. In his most recent start,
stakes winner CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal) finished a close second in
the lucrative 1 1/16-mile Delta Jackpot S. at Delta Downs in early December. The
bay will likely get sent into the battle early from his inside post position, but
there are distance questions based on his pedigree (out of a Mr. Greeley mare who is
out of a Groovy mare).

G P’S BLACK KNIGHT (Tiger Ridge) is a minor stakes winner at Calder who will
make his first start for trainer Nick Zito. He would have to improve
considerably to factor. HOSTILE WITNESS (Successful Appeal) won a six-furlong
stakes at Tampa Bay Downs two back and would be a surprise at this level.