Derby Hopefuls Line Up in Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park

We are less than 100 days away from the Run for the Roses and a solid field of 11 three-year-olds will line up in Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull (G2), the first of three Derby points races to be run at the Gulfstream Park.

Cairo Prince, who is currently listed at 25-1 in Kentucky Derby future wagering at Bovada, is the 3-1 morning line favorite for the Holy Bull. Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, the colt makes his first start since running second in the Remsen (G2) on Nov. 30 at Aqueduct. He was beaten just a nose in that outing by Honor Code, one of the early Derby favorites, currently listed at 10-1.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, who won last year’s Run for the Roses with Orb will saddle Mr Speaker, winner of the Dania Beach (G3) on turf in his last outing. The well-bred colt will be making his first start on dirt.

McGaughey already has Honor Code in his barn, who in addition to winning the Remsen ran a good second in the Champagne (G1) last year.

In addition, in Saturday’s fourth race McGaughey will send out a highly touted colt named Top Billing who is the 8-5 morning line favorite in a first level optional claimer. A win will send the colt to stakes company in his next start.

It is not a Derby points race, but Saturday’s $250,000 California Cup Derby drew a solid group of state bred three-year-olds, several of which may end up heading down the Derby trail. Among those is Tamarando, who was third in the CashCall Futurity (G1) in his last start.

The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee is the 9-5 morning line favorite and currently listed at 40-1 at Bovada. For free selections and analysis for the California Cup Derby head over to turfnsport.com.

Here is a look at Saturday’s Holy Bull:

Gulfstream Park Race 10 The Holy Bull G2 (5:03 ET)
6 Mr Speaker 5-1
1 Coup de Grace 4-1
7 Cairo Prince 3-1
9 Conquest Titan 12-1

Analysis: Mr Speaker gets the call in a deep and contentious edition of the Holy Bull, the first major Derby prep at Gulfstream Park. The colt broke his maiden in his third career start and then came back to win the Dania Beach (G3) last out in a good-looking effort. Now the colt tries dirt fort the first time here but is certainly is bred for it and he has been working sharply at Palm Meadows since his last outing.

The colt is by Pulpit out of the graded stakes placed Salute ($103,838). The mare is out of the great Personal Ensign, who was undefeated in 13 career starts and earned $1.67 million in her career. The Shug McGaughey trainee has moved forward in each start and looks capable of taking another step forward here. Four of the last six winners of this race prepped here at Gulfstream Park, all on the main track.

Coup de Grace took plenty of action in his debut at Aqueduct and did not disappoint with a sharp 3/4 of a length victory going six furlongs. The runner up in that race was Unknown Road, who came back to graduate in his next start on Dec. 19 at fair Grounds with a 98 Beyer.

Next up for our second choice was a sharp win against first level optional claimers over the main track here going a mile. The colt dueled for the early lead and finished up well to win by a length. The fifth place finisher in the race was Prudhoe Bay, who returned to win the Ocala Breeders Sprint in his next start on Jan. 21. The $300,000 Keeneland purchase has a solid pedigree, by Tapit out of a Storm Cat mare.

Cairo Prince is one of four in here that made their last starts in New York. The colt broke his maiden in his debut and then won the Nashua (G2) in his first start against winners. The third place finisher Noble Moon exited the race to win the Jerome (G2) in his next start while the fifth place finisher Jose Sea View came back to win the Display Stakes at Woodbine in his next outing.

The colt has worked sharply at Palm Meadows since his last start. He has a nice pedigree, by Pioneerof the Nile out of the stakes winner Holy Bubbette ($240,995). Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin won this race in 2005 with Closing Argument.

Wagering
WIN: #6 to win at 3-1 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,6,7,9
TRI: 1,6 / 1,6,7,9 / 1,2,6,7,9

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