Holy Bull field will scratch down to seven entrants
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HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Nine 3-year-olds were entered Sunday for Saturday’s Grade 3, $275,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, but the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds is going to lose at least two starters.
Buetane, runner-up in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga last September and Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita three weeks ago, is not going to make the trip from California, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday. Baffert said Buetane’s Tuesday flight was canceled due to weather concerns. Buetane was cross-entered in Saturday’s $1 million Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and he is only possible for that race.
Meanwhile, Game for It, a debut winner sprinting at Aqueduct on Dec. 10, is “99 percent” certain to scratch and wait for the Sam. F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7, trainer Chad Summers said.
The resulting field of seven is headed by Nearly, a son of Not This Time who has won two straight starts at Gulfstream, including a seven-furlong allowance by five lengths on Jan. 2. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Nearly “bounced out of the race well,” and Pletcher is looking forward to getting him out around two turns.
John Velazquez rides.
Incredibolt, winner of the Grade 3 Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs for trainer Riley Mott in October, drew the rail. He is only the member of this field to have won a graded stakes. Jaime Torres rides.
Roger That Dana, runner-up in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, drew post 2 and will be followed in post order by Project Ace, Global Aviator, Cannoneer, Nearly, and Bravaro. A New York-bred by Upstart, Bravaro is 2 for 2 including a 2 1/2-length victory in the Sleepy Hollow at Aqueduct on Oct. 25.
The Holy Bull is one of five stakes, two graded, on Saturday’s card.
The Grade 3, $175,000 Forward Gal Stakes for 3-year-old fillies is headed by Mythical, the Florida-bred daughter of St Patrick’s Day who went 5 for 6 as a 2-year-old, including a victory in the Grade 3 Adirondack at Saratoga. The seven-furlong Forward Gal will be her first start since she won the My Dear Girl Stakes, part of the Florida Stallion Series, on Nov. 29.
With Emisael Jaramillo having relocated to Southern California, Edgard Zayas has picked up the mount on Mythical.
Trainer Brad Cox entered both Sneaky Good and On Time Girl. Saffie Joseph Jr. entered the pair of Tessellate and Secane. Also entered were Music Burst, Hollen Drive, and Imperatrice.
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