Holy Bull to match Upstart and Frosted

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Upstart and Frosted are the top names among a field of 10 entered in Gulfstream Park’s first Kentucky Derby points race of the year, the Grade 2, $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday.

Upstart, third behind Texas Red and Carpe Diem in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in his last start, was confirmed as a starter Sunday by trainer Rick Violette after a six-furlong workout in 1:12.20 at the Palm Meadows training center.

Frosted, runner-up as the favorite behind Leave the Light On in the Remsen last out, also worked over the weekend at Palm Meadows, breezing a half-mile Saturday in 48 seconds for Godolphin Racing and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

Bluegrass Singer, a 1 3/4-length winner of the Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 3, was entered not only in the Holy Bull, but also in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes, one of four supporting stakes on the Saturday undercard. All five stakes are for 3-year-olds.

“I’ve got time to sleep on it,” said Marcus Vitali, trainer of Bluegrass Singer. “Maybe I’m barely leaning toward the points,” he adde, referring to the Holy Bull.

Likewise, Illinois-bred standout Dom the Bomb has been cross-entered in both races by trainer Larry Rivelli.

The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, worth 10 points to the winner on the Kentucky Derby points system, leads off the Gulfstream series of major 3-year-old events. It will be followed by the Feb. 21 Fountain of Youth and March 28 Florida Derby.

From the rail, this is the Holy Bull field: Frosted, Keen Ice, High Noon Rider, Bluegrass Singer, Juan and Bina, First Down, Frammento, Upstart, Dom the Bomb, and Decision Day.

The Holy Bull is carded Saturday as the ninth of 11 races and the third of five stakes that conclude the program. Post time for the Holy Bull is 4:34 p.m. Eastern. HRTV will have full-day coverage.

Here is a quick look at the other four Saturday stakes:

* Grade 3, $150,000 Hutcheson (race 7): Eight are entered, with Bluegrass Singer having drawn the outside post. Barbados, an impressive winner of the Spectacular Bid, drew post 7.

* Grade 3, $100,000 Sweetest Chant (race 8): Ten fillies are entered in this one-mile turf race, with Consumer Credit, Quality Rocks, and Ol’ Fashion Gal the likely favorites.

* Grade 2, $200,000 Forward Gal (race 10): An outstanding group of 11 fillies is in this seven-furlong race, led by Frizette winner By the Moon, trained by Michelle Nevin. Other notables include Taylor S, Skipalute, and Enchantress.

* $100,000 Kitten’s Joy (race 11): A wide-open field of colts and geldings will clash at a mile on the grass, with Chief Kitten maybe a slight choice over Dubai Sky, Courtier, Croininthebarbarian, and eight others.