Hull remains perfect in Derby Trial

Hull mixed it up early and powered home late (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) Heiligbrodt Racing Stable, Gary Barber and Team Valor International’s HULL (Holy Bull) might have made his stakes debut in last Saturday’s Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland, until the undefeated colt drew the far outside post 12. Considering that would have been a tough draw to overcome in his first attempt at two turns, his connections decided to scratch and await Saturday’s $112,000 Derby Trial S. (G3) at Churchill Downs. Hull benefited from that shrewd move. Despite being part of a crowded speed duel early, the Dale Romans pupil sprinted clear in the stretch to remain undefeated in three starts. In the process, Hull has entered calculations for the May 16 Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico. When the gate opened on the one-turn affair out of the chute, Hull, 9-5 favorite Silver City (Unbridled’s Song), Checklist (Gone West), Santana Six (Hold That Tiger) and Kensei (Mr. Greeley) all flashed speed, and the quintet were separated by about one length through the initial quarter-mile.

Checklist had his head in front through a sizzling split of :21 3/5, but
Silver City held a narrow advantage along the rail when reaching a half-mile in
:44 1/5. Entering the stretch, Hull was traveling best of all the pace factors. As they began to tire, he stormed to the front, opening up by 1 1/2
lengths in midstretch. The dark bay colt showed some signs of inexperience as he
drew off, but he remained in complete command.

Widening his margin to four lengths at the wire, Hull finished 7 1/2 furlongs
in 1:30 1/5 on the fast track. He returned $8.80, $5.40 and $4.40 as the nearly
7-2 third choice, keying the $84 exacta, the $1,223.40 trifecta and $6,443.60
superfecta (7-8-4-6).

“I loved what I saw out there today,” Romans recapped. “He relaxed off the
pace, and when the rider asked him to run, he really exploded. He’s as good as
anybody around right now. He’s opened up in all three of his races.”

“There were really fast fractions, but he broke good and was in the bridle
happy,” Mena said. “I didn’t (want) to take him back and break his momentum.

“It’s just unbelievable (that he could finish off such a fast pace). Not any
horse can do it — only special horses.”

When asked how far Hull might be able to stay, Mena was categorical.

“I breeze him in the morning and think he can run any distance,” the jockey
replied.

Kensei, who had dropped back slightly to sixth on the backstretch, rallied to
garner runner-up honors by 1 3/4 lengths from Checklist. The 12-1 Kensei yielded
$13.80 and $7.40, while the 17-1 Checklist gave back $9 to show. It was another
half-length back to the late-running Rendezvous (Victory Gallop), who closed
from last for fourth. Silver City faded to fifth, followed by Gato Go Win (City
Place), Santana Six and Tintim Por Tintim (Broken Vow).

Hull has now bankrolled $107,800. A 4 1/4-length debut winner at Fair Grounds
on February 7, he rolled to a 7 3/4-length victory at Turfway on April 2.

Bred by Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Clinkinbeard in Kentucky, Hull was an $82,000
two-year-old in training purchase at Fasig-Tipton Midlantic. He is out of the
stakes-placed Band Queen (Chimes Band), who hails from the family of Grade 1
winners Comedy Act (Shecky Greene) and The Cliff’s Edge (Gulch). Hull has an
unnamed juvenile full sister and a yearling half-sister by Kafwain.

“We’ll take a look and see what happens in the (Kentucky) Derby ([G1] next
Saturday), who goes on from there and who doesn’t,” Romans said. “The Preakness
is a possibility for him right now.”