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2021 Holy Bull Stakes Cheat Sheet
Racing
The field for the 2020 Holy Bull Stakes exits the starting gate at Gulfstream Park, with eventual winner Tiz the Law (#3) breaking well en route to a dominant victory. (Bob Coglianese/Gulfstream Park)
Gulfstream Park has long been a key racetrack on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and in recent years three of the last eight Kentucky Derby winners made at least one start at the Hallandale Beach, Fla. track on the Derby trail.
Saturday's $200,000, Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes kicks off the Florida path to Louisville as the first points race for the 2021 Kentucky Derby in the state with key Gulfstream prep races like the Feb. 27 Fountain of Youth Stakes and the March 27 Florida Derby to follow. The Holy Bull winner will earn 10 points toward qualifying for the first jewel of the Triple Crown with second worth four points, third-place worth two points, and one point for fourth place.
Three Holy Bull Stakes runners have used the race as a springboard to a victory in the Kentucky Derby: Go for Gin (1994), Funny Cide (2003), and Barbaro (2006). Tiz the Law won this race last year and ended up taking the first jewel of the 2020 Triple Crown – the Belmont Stakes – before running second in the rescheduled Kentucky Derby.
Read on for more information about the nine contenders for the 2021 Holy Bull Stakes, named for the 1994 Horse of the Year. The race will be televised on TVG and has a scheduled post time of 4:50 p.m. ET.
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1. Jirafales
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Owners: OGMA Investments and Off The Hook
Career record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $21,600
Earnings per start: $21,600
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 71
Pedigree: Social Inclusion – Gran Pashita, by Horse Chestnut
Color: Bay
Running style: Closer
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Jirafales enters the Holy Bull off a debut win against Florida-breds Nov. 19 at Gulfstream Park West. He closed from far off the pace and powered clear to win by 4 ¾ lengths in the 6 ½-furlong sprint. Based on the step up in class, stretching out in distance to 1 1/16 miles, and modest 71 Equibase Speed Figure for his debut win, Jirafales should be one of the biggest prices on the toteboard. With the right pace setup, it’s not hard to envision Jirafales passing several horses late, and there could be room for significant growth in only his second start. Trainer Gustavo Delgado ran second in the 2016 Florida Derby with 21.30-1 longshot Majesto. Jockey John Velazquez won this race in 1997 on Arthur L.
Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photo
2. Willy Boi
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Trainer: Jeff Engler
Owner: Lea Farms
Career record: 2 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $48,000
Earnings per start: $24,000
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 85
Pedigree: Uncaptured – Shining Moment, by Yes It's True
Color: Bay
Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Unbeaten in a pair of three-quarter-mile sprint races at Gulfstream on Dec. 10 and Jan. 7, Willy Boi will be stretching out in distance for the first time while moving up in competition from races restricted to Florida-breds to an open stakes race. Needless to say, the Holy Bull Stakes will be a significant test on several fronts for this Uncaptured gelding. His dam (mother), Shining Moment, was a stakes-winning sprinter, so distance is a concern, but with a small step forward Willy Boi could be competitive against a field that on paper appears to be lacking true star power and he should be a nice price. Jockey Junior Alvarado won the Holy Bull in 2016 on Mohaymen.
Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photo
3. Papetu
Jockey: Leonel Reyes
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Owner: Magic Stables
Career record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $78,325
Earnings per start: $15,665
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 88
Pedigree: Dialed in – Lady Malkin, by Sharp Humor
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Trainer Antonio Sano finished second in this race in 2017 with Gunnevera, who went on to win the Grade 2 XpressBet Fountain of Youth Stakes. Gunnevera was a multiple graded stakes winner entering the Holy Bull, while Papetu is less accomplished at this stage of his career. After winning his first two starts in sprints over the summer at Gulfstream, Papetu was unplaced in both the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite and Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes. The Dialed In colt showed improvement when finishing second by 1 ½ lengths to Mutasaabeq in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 2. He clearly likes the main track at Gulfstream Park, but Papetu probably will need to boost his career-best Equibase Speed Figure by about 10-15 points to be a legitimate win candidate.
Lauren KIng/Coglianese Photo
4. Amount
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable
Career record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $24,000
Earnings per start: $24,000
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 84
Pedigree: Curlin – Extent, by Pulpit
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Stalker
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Despite a troubled start, Amount won his career debut from off the pace by 5 ¾ lengths to make a terrific first impression. While the 84 Equibase Speed Figure came back a bit light, credit Amount for overcoming adversity and handling getting dirt kicked in his face while on the inside before sweeping to the front professionally in early stretch as the 8-5 favorite. This half-brother to Grade 3 winner Size and Grade 1-placed winner Mucho hails from a nice family cultivated by Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider responsible for, among others, champions Nureyev and Blame as well as breed-shaping sire Sadler’s Wells. Amount will need to improve while stepping up to face stakes competition, but between his debut and pedigree it’s easy to find reason for optimism. Trainer Todd Pletcher won this race in 2012 with Algorithms and in 2018 with Audible; jockey Luis Saez won the Holy Bull in 2014 with Cairo Prince.
Lauren KIng/Coglianese Photo
5. Tarantino
Jockey: Edgard Zayas
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Career record: 3 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $77,000
Earnings per start: $25,667
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 82
Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile – Without Delay, by Seeking the Gold
Color: Bay
Running style: Stalker
Notable achievements and interesting facts: A $610,000 purchase as a yearling, Tarantino has gotten off to a nice start on the racetrack with two wins and a runner-up finish in the Zuma Beach Stakes from three starts. All three of those races came on the grass, however, so whether or not the Pioneerof the Nile colt can make the transition to the main track lingers as the key question entering the Holy Bull. With a career-top Equibase Speed Figure of 82, it’s also fair to question whether Tarantino, named after famous American film director and producer Quentin Tarantino, is fast enough on paper to win. Tarantino has finished quite well in his turf races, so I’m optimistic he’ll be fast enough IF he handles the surface change. Tarantino profiles as one of several wild cards in this race. Co-owner SF Racing was part of the partnership that won the 2018 Holy Bull with Audible; part-owner Starlight Racing won this race in 2012 with Algorithms.
Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photo
6. Prime Factor
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Owners: CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm
Career record: 1 start – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $24,000
Earnings per start: $24,000
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 89
Pedigree: Quality Road – Haylie Brae, by Bernardini
Color: Bay
Running style: Pacesetter/press the pace
Notable achievements and interesting facts: A $900,000 purchase at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale, Prime Factor made a sparkling career debut Dec. 12 at Gulfstream when he won a three-quarter-mile race by 8 ¾ lengths to earn an 89 Equibase Speed Figure. Racing for China Horse Club and WinStar Farm, who won this race in 2018 as partners with SF Racing on Audible, Prime Factor looks like a promising upside play for the Holy Bull as he hails from a powerful family that has produced multiple champions, including 1991 Canadian Horse of the Year Dance Smartly. Trainer Todd Pletcher won the Holy Bull in 2012 with Algorithms and in 2018 with Audible.
Lauren KIng/Coglianese Photo
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Owner: Courtlandt Farms (Donald and Donna Adam)
Career record: 4 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds
Career earnings: $56,200
Earnings per start: $14,050
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 104
Pedigree: Tapit – Tiffany's Honour, by Street Cry
Color: Bay
Running style: Closer
Notable achievements and interesting facts: This Courtlandt Farm homebred finished in the top three in each of his first three races, rallying from off the pace each time and passing rivals in the stretch. His breakout performance came in his fourth start Dec. 26 at Gulfstream Park, where he was seventh early after trouble at the start but closed with a rush to win by 1 ½ lengths as the 1-2 favorite. He completed the final five-sixteenths of a mile in 30.30 seconds, so he was moving really well at the finish, and he earned a 104 Equibase Speed Figure. The 15-point jump was a significant step forward and if he can duplicate that effort, Greatest Honour is a win candidate for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey. Greatest Honour is out of the Street Cry mare Tiffany’s Honour, a half-sister to 2007 Belmont Stakes winner and champion Rags to Riches and 2006 Belmont Stakes winner Jazil. Jockey Jose Ortiz won this race in 2015 on Upstart.
Coady Photography
8. Sittin On Go
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Trainer: Dale Romans
Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Career record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Career earnings: $167,520
Earnings per start: $41,880
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 95
Pedigree: Brody's Cause – Set'n on Ready, by More Than Ready
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Closer
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Sittin On Go’s career began with a ton of promise as he won his debut Aug. 16 at Ellis Park by 4 ¼ lengths and then closed from ninth to win the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes Presented by Ford Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs by 2 ½ lengths. The Brody’s Cause colt’s shine lost some luster when he followed with a ninth-place finish, beaten by 12 ¼ lengths, in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance before another unplaced finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. Trainer Dale Romans has expressed confidence that we’ll see an improved Sittin On Go in the Holy Bull, but this can be a tough track to close on from far back and he’ll need to improve his speed figures to be a win candidate.
Lauren KIng/Coglianese Photo
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Owners: John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch
Career record: 5 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third
Career earnings: $74,850
Earnings per start: $14,970
Top Equibase Speed Figure: 84
Pedigree: Liam’s Map – Star of Munster, by Tribal Rule
Color: Gray or roan
Running style: Stalker
Notable achievements and interesting facts: Awesome Gerry posted consecutive victories to kick off his career, winning sprints at Gulfstream Park in July and Gulfstream Park West in October. He finished a well-beaten fourth Breeders’ Cup weekend at Keeneland in the Nyquist Stakes in his stakes debut, but he’s shown some improvement with extra distance. The Liam’s Map colt ran second in the seven-furlong Jean Laffite Stakes at Delta Downs in November and then finished third in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes Jan. 2 at Gulfstream while matching his career-best 84 Equibase Speed Figure. That type of speed figure most likely places Awesome Gerry outside the top three, but he could hold on for a spot in the trifecta at a big price if he still has significant improvement in him. I’m skeptical. Co-owner Paul Braverman won this race as a part-owner of both Cairo Prince in 2014 and Harvey Wallbanger in 2019.
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