Dear
Readers,
Nothing I like better than
handicapping a nice field of horses in a top rated race. This Saturdays Grade
II Holy Bull Stakes falls into the top rated category on several levels. Used
as a prep race for the Florida Derby, which is a stepping stone for the Kentucky
Derby, the race annually attracts a strong field of contenders. Who doesn’t
remember Barbaro who won this race in 2006 and went on to win the Florida Derby
and the Kentucky Derby?
Is there a possible Kentucky Derby
winner in this race? Could be. Let’s take a look at the entries.
Coup de Grace — This son of Tapit broke his
maiden at first asking, going six furlongs, in November. He came back five
weeks later to win an allowance race at a distance of one mile. This race
seems an ambitious, though at the same time obvious, choice for his connections
to choose for their speedy charge.
Financial Mogul — I don’t know what to say about this
horse, he seems to show up ready to run every other race. Someday he may get it
all together and be a really nice horse, but until he lines out and figures out
what he’s supposed to do, I will be looking elsewhere for the winner of this
race.
Best Plan Yet — A veteran of seven races in eight
months, this horse has learned his lessons, running himself into being
considered a nice colt and one with a bright future. Obviously his connections
thought highly of him from the get go. His first two starts were in stakes
races before they backed him down and gave him an opportunity to break his maiden,
against easier company, in a maiden special weight. He got really good after
that. But what happened in the last race where he finished way back? He broke
good and then went nowhere. Maybe he didn’t like the Gulfstream Park surface
and that wouldn’t bode well for Saturday.
Almost Famous — And if he wins this race he will definitely
live up to his name. This son of Unbridled’s Song looks very talented and has also
been rather good at getting himself in trouble. Lightly raced, he is one good
race, against tougher company, away from being well regarded.
Our Caravan — With one race, and that going a distance of ground, you can’t
ignore this colt. Though he seemed sluggish in the early and mid stages of that
race against other maidens, nonetheless he won by a clear margin. Taking on
this group in the Holy Bull, while it seems ambitious, his connections will
look very savvy if he wins.
Mr Speaker — I should really like this son of Pulpit, but I’m a little
suspect since he’s never run on the dirt. He’s blessed with a trainer who knows
how to bring a young runner up to a big race and Mr Speaker looks like he knows
the business of running when he pushed through on the rail to pull away in his
last race. This talented turf runner can’t be overlooked by any means, and hopefully
he’ll like the Gulfstream Park surface.
Cairo Prince — Okay, I see why everybody is getting so
excited about this colt. The most impressive thing about him, for me, is when the
running starts on the turn for home; Cairo Prince wants to be in front. Ears slick
to his head, he digs in and gives it everything he’s got. The last race, where
he was second by a nostril, was for all intents and purposes a draw, at least
as far as I’m concerned. The pace in that race was astonishingly slow, my
goodness these horses breeze faster than those fractions…much faster.
Wicked Strong — This colt didn’t benefit from the slow
pace in the Remsen either , and he finished third behind Cairo Prince. He got himself
in trouble coming out of the gate and ran with his tail tucked up under him,
never seemed to relax enough to enjoy himself. With very little room to run throughout the race, when Wicked
Strong did get clear, he ran green as grass down the lane, and yet he only got
beat a half length. I like this colt. Someday,
if he stays sound, and once he figures out what it’s all about, he'll be
quite the runner.
Conquest Titan — I don’t know what to say about this
horse, he has shown talent, but I hesitate to ignore him and yet I can’t back
him. He would benefit from an easy lead, something he is unlikely to enjoy in
this race.
Big Bazinga — Right off let’s get past how much I like the name of this horse. I’ve never watched the Big Bang Theory, which is where Bazinga
was popularized and I must say it would be a big prank indeed, if this gelding beat
this contentious group of runners. Big fun if he did, however.
Intense Holiday — This colt has all the right connections
going for him, and boy-howdy he has been running against the best. Maybe
Saturday will be the day he gets it all together.
So
what do I think? Tough race and it should be very exciting. I won’t be betting
and I’m not encouraging anybody to use my opinions to make their wagers, having
said that; here are the horses I’ll be watching to make a statement. If they do, I’ll be back bragging about it on
Sunday.
Wicked
Strong — If he gets it all together on Saturday, he may be in a close
photo with Cairo Prince.
Cairo
Prince — I love this horse and his obvious will to win. But I do
think he could be battling it out with Wicked Strong if the latter lines out
and runs his best race.
Mr
Speaker — Will definitely have a say in the outcome of this race.
Take care,
Shelley Riley, Author of Casual Lies – A Triple Crown Adventure
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