Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes; 1 1/16 miles; Gulfstream Park; Feb. 5, 2022 (10 Derby qualifying points for first, 4 for second, 2 for third, 1 for fourth) Winner: White Abarrio, by Race Day Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione Owner: C2 Racing and La Milagrosa Stable Beyer Speed Figure: 97 WHITE ABARRIO continued his love affair with Gulfstream Park, where he is based, with a career-best performance in his 3-year-old debut and first start since a satisfactory effort in the Kentucky Jockey Club more than two months prior. His Beyer figure was a 16-point improvement from his best races at 2. He’s now 3 for 3 at Gulfstream, where it makes sense for him to remain until he heads to Kentucky for the Derby. Joseph told colleague Mike Welsch after this race that the Florida Derby on April 2 is likely next. In this race, White Abarrio broke sharply and then was hustled by Gaffalione to move into an ideal position, in the two path, just behind and outside pacesetter GALT, around the first turn. He inched closer during the run down the backstretch, continued outside Galt around the far turn while going the easier of the two, was sent along three-sixteenths out and surged to the front, kicked clear in upper stretch, and was strong to the wire without being threatened. His positional speed will be an important asset in upcoming races. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more SIMPLIFICATION, who finished second, had a nightmarish trip. He looked like the speed of the race, or at least a pace presence, but he leaned back just as the gates opened and was away worst of all, then had traffic trouble while trying to find a seam at the rear of the pack heading into the first turn. He raced three paths wide around the first turn, made progress down the backside while in the middle of the course, then rallied with intent while in the three path on the far turn. He drifted out a bit in upper stretch while failing to change leads, stayed on his wrong lead to the wire, stalled late, and just did hold the place. Considering the track profile and his trip, this was a terrific effort, especially considering it was his first try around two turns. He had every right to chuck it at several points, but kept finding. MO DONEGAL, who was third, didn’t break sharply but was able to advance into the first turn and race mid-pack while saving ground. He gradually eased off the rail into the backside and advanced in the three path, just inside Simplification. He failed to quicken as needed three furlongs out and was outrun at that point, but took hold late after straightening away in the lane and was finishing best of all when he ran out of racetrack while racing to the first finish line. He prefers more distance and a track that is kinder to his style. This was a good starting point for his 3-year-old campaign, and in my mind he remains a top-shelf Derby candidate. Galt, who was fourth, broke sharply and then was sent along from his rail draw to make the lead. He pulled just a bit more than likely preferred while maintaining a narrow advantage to the far turn, at which point White Abarrio applied serious pressure. He couldn’t stay with the eventual winner three-sixteenths out while coming under an aggressive ride, drifted out slightly in upper stretch, and tired a bit late. He’s probably better with a target, but he’s probably not quite at this level, too. CAJUN’S MAGIC, who was fifth, broke well and then settled into a terrific spot chasing the two leaders while saving ground inside of GIANT GAME. He stayed in that spot to the far turn, continued to get a ground-saving trip while following Galt around the far turn, was angled off the rail late on the turn in an attempt to go around Galt, but just went through the motions through the lane. He had a sweet trip and couldn’t capitalize, but this was his first start in four months, so he may have come up short, too. :: For the first time ever, our premium past performances are free! Get free Formulator now! SPIN WHEEL, who was sixth, has no early speed and trailed early while three paths wide for most of the first turn. He trailed to the far turn, got through inside on that turn, but never came within hailing distance of the leaders while outrun throughout. TIZ THE BOMB, who was seventh, raced mid-pack while between rivals around the first turn, was just outside Mo Donegal entering the backside, but failed to keep up with that rival during the run down the backstretch and lost ground while appearing to resent the kickback. He was asked to try and keep pace three furlongs out but had nothing to offer. The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up deserved a chance to try dirt at this stage of the prep season, he ran like a horse who wants anything but. Giant Game, who was eighth, broke outward a bit at the start, then advanced in the three path early on the first turn and got over to be in the two path, just outside Cajun’s Magic, by the midway point of that turn. He stayed in that spot to the far turn, then was asked to hold his place a bit less than three furlongs out while between rivals. But he went in reverse and drifted out through the lane. After the race, Welsch was told by trainer Dale Romans that Giant Game displaced his palate and would subsequently undergo throat surgery. ELOQUIST, who finished last of nine, dropped back through the field in the opening furlong to be eighth around the first turn while saving ground. He was asked about a half-mile out and made a brief, mild surge, but was done early on the far turn and faded badly while overmatched.