Gulfstream Park: Bradester impresses in allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - The Todd Pletcher-trained Verrazano wasn’t the only 3-year-old to put himself into the Derby picture on opening day. Itsmyluckyday obviously threw his hat in the ring with his one-sided victory in the Gulfstream Park Derby. And Bradester likely punched his ticket to the Grade 3 Holy Bull here later this month with a 1 3/4-length entry-level allowance win going 1 1/16 miles a little earlier on the card.

Bradester is a son of Lion Heart trained by Eddie Kenneally for owner Joseph Sutton. He started just twice at 2, finishing a well-beaten second in his debut before graduating by 3 1/4 lengths, also at 1 1/16 miles, at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24. He received a career best 90 Beyer for his 3-year-old bow.

“He’s a nice horse,” said Kenneally. “We’ve always liked him a lot. He won last time over a distance of ground and he ran well again today. He has a lot of stamina, so distance isn’t going to be a problem for him.”

The Holy Bull, which is expected to mark the 3-year-old debut of Shanghai Bobby, will also be decided at 1 1/16 miles on Jan. 26.