Two days after seeing his 2-year-old male champion Ted Noffey knocked off the road to the 2026 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve due to injury, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher apparently found a talented replacement.

Nearly produced his third straight impressive victory for owners Centennial Farms by defeating five other 3-year-olds in the $267,5000 Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 31.

Nearly's 5 3/4-length victory in 1:44.52 on a fast track under Hall of Famer jockey John Velazquez made him a logical Derby contender.

"I don't really look at it like this one replaces that one," Pletcher said of his two colts. "It's just this horse has been doing well on its own, and we had high hopes for him. We're happy to have him."

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The Holy Bull awarded qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to its top five finishers. The Florida-bred Nearly garnered 20 points to place him near the top of the current leaderboard. Churchill Downs officials use qualifying points as a preference system when the Derby oversubscribes beyond its 20-horse maximum field size.

Nearly, who had won his previous two starts by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, broke well Saturday, remaining to the outside of leading 3-2 favorite Cannoneer, who set fractions of 22.82 and 45.96 under pressure from Nearly before Nearly poked his head in front for the first time after six furlongs in 1:10.32.

"We wanted to get to the first turn forwardly, not necessarily on the lead but in a good stalking position," Pletcher said of Nearly and Velazquez. "He kind of broke inward a little bit, recovered. Those two went to the first turn. They were clicking right along, and it looked like he got into a good rhythm."

Pletcher won the Holy Bull for the third time, while Velazquez notched his second victory in the race.

Velazquez said he saw Nearly, who paid $5.40 to win, mature in the race,

"He got a little aggressive today. He was never like that. Normally, it takes him a little while to get his legs under him but today he was there right away," Velazquez said. "This race he elevated to a different level."

Bravaro finished second to earn 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. Project Ace was 2 3/4 lengths behind Bravaro in third (six points). Cannoneer was fourth (four points), followed by Global Aviator (two points) in fifth. Incredibolt rounded out the order of finish.

Pletcher both said Nearly's likely next start will be in the March 28 Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Pletcher, a two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer, has won the Florida Derby a record eight times. -- Charlie McCarthy