What’s in a (Race) Name? The Brilliance of Holy Bull

Legends
The horses load into the starting gate for the Holy Bull Stakes in 2018. (Eclipse Sportswire)

On Jan. 30, Gulfstream Park in Florida will host the $200,000 Holy Bull Stakes, a major prep race on the road to the Kentucky Derby. It’s only fitting that the Holy Bull should be a race of such significance, for Holy Bull was undoubtedly one of the most brilliant horses we have seen in the last 30 years. In fact, Holy Bull was such a remarkably talented horse that his defeats (which were rare) were all chalked up to extenuating circumstances and/or bad luck; it can be said that Holy Bull never lost a race in which he was presented any reasonable chance of winning.

His talent was obvious right from the start, for he went 4-for-4 as a two-year-old in 1993, including a win in the historic Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park. Owner and trainer Jimmy Croll – already a legend as the trainer of Belmont Stakes winner Bet Twice and champion sprinter Housebuster – clearly had another star in his barn, perhaps even a horse that could win the Kentucky Derby.

But Holy Bull’s road to the Derby wasn’t smoothly paved. He opened the year with an impressive win in the Hutcheson Stakes, but finished an inexplicable last in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, beaten more than 24 lengths. It turned out that a breathing issue had compromised his chances, and Holy Bull proved that the issue was behind him when he romped to easy wins in the Florida Derby and Blue Grass Stakes, stamping himself as a clear favorite to win the Kentucky Derby.

Holy Bull and Mike Smith. (Blood-Horse photo)

But to the surprise of many – jockey Mike Smith included – Holy Bull never contended in the Derby, failing to show his typical speed and tiring to finish 12th. Maybe it was the unfamiliar footing at Churchill Downs, which some horses don’t seem to care for. Maybe it was the fact that Holy Bull broke slowly and failed to secure the early lead for the first time in his career. Or maybe he just wasn’t feeling good that day, as many people noted that Holy Bull seemed uncharacteristically quiet heading to the starting gate.

Whatever the reason, Holy Bull shrugged it off and was back to his winning ways three weeks later, when he faced older horses in the historic Metropolitan Handicap and crushed them by 5 ½ lengths. Back against his own age group, Holy Bull cruised to wins in the Dwyer Stakes and Haskell Invitational, winning both with ease. Only one question remained for Holy Bull to answer, and that was the question of his stamina. His defeat in the Kentucky Derby and subsequent brilliance in shorter races led many to wonder if Holy Bull could handle a mile and a quarter, the classic distance of American dirt races.

Holy Bull answered the question in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Forced to set a fast pace while dueling for the lead with a “rabbit” (a pacemaker for another runner), Holy Bull opened up a big lead halfway through the race, but began to tire from his exertions as the long homestretch loomed ahead. From the back of the pack, the future Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Concern was gathering momentum and charging hard. It seemed impossible that Holy Bull could hold on, but showing the courage of a champion, he turned back the challenge and won by a neck, with the rest of the field 17 lengths behind.

The following year, Holy Bull injured his leg during the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream and had to be retired. As a stallion, he made up for his Derby defeat by siring 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, who was fittingly guided to victory by Mike Smith. A true racing legend, Holy Bull died in June 2017

Holy Bull isn’t the only racing legend being honored with a stakes race this weekend. Here are a few others!

Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park

It’s fitting that Gulfstream Park’s Forward Gal Stakes is held at a distance of seven-eighths of a mile, as Forward Gal herself was an accomplished sprinter that won five stakes races going less than a mile, including the Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga. A 7-for-13 campaign in 1970 earned her the title of champion 2-year-old filly, and while she wasn’t quite as dominant in 1971, she proved to be more than just a sprinter by stretching her speed to win the Monmouth Oaks and Gazelle Handicap, both at 1 1/8 miles. Coincidentally, Forward Gal – like Holy Bull – was trained by Jimmy Croll.

Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream Park

In recent years, Dale Romans has been acclaimed as the trainer of horses like Shackleford (a Preakness Stakes winner) and Keen Ice (who beat Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Travers Stakes). But one of the best horses Romans ever trained was Kitten’s Joy, voted champion turf male of 2004 after winning six of his eight starts that year, including an effortless romp in the Secretariat Stakes. Yet as good as Kitten’s Joy was as a racehorse, he has become even more legendary as the sire of the multitudes of talented “Kittens” that currently grace our racetracks. Kitten’s Joy was the leading sire of 2013 and his top foals include Stephanie’s Kitten, Big Blue Kitten, Bobby’s Kitten, and Oscar Performance, all of which have won Eclipse Awards and/or Breeders’ Cup races.

Claiborne Farm Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park

Perhaps Swale wasn’t the most consistent horse, but when he was at his best, he was a genuine star. Bred and owned by Claiborne Farm, Swale showed remarkable courage and determination as a 2-year-old in 1983, winning three prestigious stakes races (including the Futurity Stakes) by margins of a nose, a head, and a nose. The following year, he proved himself to be clearly the best 3-year-old of his generation by winning the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes in effortless fashion, but he sadly died of a suspected heart attack just eight days after his Belmont triumph.

Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park

Robert B. Lewis (more commonly known as Bob Lewis) campaigned a stable full of talented horses with his wife, Beverly, during the 1990s and 2000s. One of the most popular men in racing, Bob Lewis owned such well-known champions as Serena’s Song, Timber Country, Silver Charm, and Charismatic, with the latter two falling just short in bids to win the Triple Crown. Lewis passed away in 2006, and the following year Santa Anita renamed the Santa Catalina Stakes in his honor.

Note: This story was originally published in 2017 and has been updated.

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