Holy Bull: 7 take on Fierceness in Kentucky Derby prep

Fierceness, the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner who was named champion 2-year-old last week, tops a field of eight 3-year-olds entered for Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park.

The Holy Bull, a 1 1/16-mile prep for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1), offers 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and owned by Repole Stables, Fierceness captured the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile at Santa Anita Nov. 3 by 6 1/4 lengths over next-out San Vicente (G2) winner Muth.

Otello, who captured the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man, is entered to return in the Holy Bull. The Christophe Clement-trained son of Curlin is undefeated in two career starts.

Sea Streak, who led in the stretch of the mile Mucho Macho Man before finishing a half-length back in third, was entered in the Holy Bull by trainer Eddie Owens Jr. The New Jersey-bred son of Sea Wizard previously had finished second behind Inveigled in a mile optional-claiming allowance.

Inveigled, who lost a photo finish when finishing second in the James F. Lewis Stakes at Laurel before his Gulfstream optional-claiming allowance win, was entered in the Holy Bull by trainer Jane Cibelli. The son of Enticed finished a troubled fourth in the Mucho Macho Man.

Trainer Chad Brown is represented in the Holy Bull field by  Domestic Product, who finished off the board in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct last time out.

Dancing Groom, who finished off the board in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and a distant third in the Champagne (G1) in his last two starts, was entered in the Holy Bull by trainer Antonio Sano.

Hades will put his undefeated record on the line in the Holy Bull. The Joe Orseno-trained son of Awesome Slew won his first two races in impressive fashion at Gulfstream.

No More Time, who finished fifth in the Mucho Macho Man after a troubled start, was entered in the Holy Bull by trainer Jose D’Angelo.