Talented trio pointing to Holy Bull

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Mo Donegal, Giant Game, and Tiz the Bomb are among the accomplished 3-year-olds expected next Saturday when Gulfstream Park kicks off its annual Road to the Florida Derby series with the Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull.

Mo Donegal was scheduled for a final pre-race breeze this weekend at trainer Todd Pletcher’s winter base at Palm Beach Downs. It was to be the sixth timed work for the Uncle Mo colt since he won the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in early December.

Giant Game, third behind Corniche and Pappacap in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, also was to work this weekend at Gulfstream in keeping with a regular schedule for trainer Dale Romans.

“He’s doing great, and we’re very excited to get started back with him,” Romans said.

Tiz the Bomb is switching back to dirt after ending 2021 with three straight turf races for trainer Kenny McPeek. The colt won the Kentucky Downs Juvenile and the Bourbon at Keeneland prior to finishing second behind Modern Games in a controversial renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

The Holy Bull is one of five Grade 3 stakes, all for 3-year-olds, to be run here Saturday. The other races are worth $100,000 each – the Swale and Forward Gal, both at seven furlongs, and the Kitten’s Joy and Sweetest Chant, both at 1 1/16 miles on turf.

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Gulfstream racing officials are expecting at least eight starters, and probably at least a couple more, when entries for the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull are drawn Wednesday. The other prospects include Classic Causeway, Simplification, Spin Wheel, and White Abarrio, with Eloquist a possibility. Bill Mott also is expected to enter one of Galt, Gilded Age, or Graphic Detail while diverting High Oak, winner of the Saratoga Special last summer, to the Swale.

The Holy Bull is one of three 10-4-2-1 qualifiers toward the May 7 Kentucky Derby set for next weekend. The others are the Withers on Saturday at Aqueduct and the Robert Lewis on Sunday at Santa Anita.

The Holy Bull is the first of three Derby preps at the four-month Gulfstream championship meet. The Fountain of Youth (50-20-10-5) on March 5 and Florida Derby (100-40-20-10) on April 2 follow.

Holmes rides first winner

Gage Holmes, a 25-year-old apprentice from Pleasantville, Pa., rode her first winner when Kitten Street coasted home at 28-1 in the second race Thursday at Gulfstream.

It was the ninth career mount for Holmes, who has been exercising horses at Palm Meadows for various stables in recent weeks. She was greeted afterward by her fellow riders with the customary barrage of shaving cream, eggs, baby powder, and water.

◗ Emmanuel, a 6 3/4-length winner of his only start, has been entered by Pletcher in a two-turn allowance Sunday at Tampa Bay Downs (race 6). Emmanuel earned a 78 Beyer Speed Figure in winning a one-mile maiden race here Dec. 11.

◗ For maintenance purposes, there will be no morning training at Gulfstream on either the dirt or Tapeta surfaces on Mondays, beginning this week and effective until further notice.