Holy Bull guide: Odds, analysis, PPs for Kentucky Derby prep
There will be points aplenty awarded this Saturday toward Kentucky Derby 2024 when a quartet of 3-year-old stakes are contested across the country.
Chief among them is the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park, where Breeders’ Cup Juvenile victor Fierceness will make his return.
The Holy Bull pits a field of eight at 1 1/16 miles in the Saturday finale, which carries an approximate post time of 5:45 p.m. EST. Assuming all estimated post times hold true, the Holy Bull will be the last of the Derby preps to be contested with the Withers Stakes (G3), Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) and Southwest Stakes (G3) taking place earlier at Aqueduct, Santa Anita and Oaklawn, respectively.
CNBC will televise the Holy Bull and Bob Lewis as part of a live program between 4 and 6 p.m. EST. The Withers and Southwest will be seen in the FS2 telecast between 3 and 6 p.m. EST.
We have Super Screener picks and analysis for the Holy Bull as well as recent top speed figures for each contender.
You can also check out Horse Racing Nation’s free past performances page, where you can download PPs for the Holy Bull and more, courtesy of our partners at Brisnet.
Holy Bull best speed figures
| Post | Horse | ML | Beyer | TimeformUS | HRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hades | 6-1 | 78 | 99 | 93 |
| 2 | Inveigled | 12-1 | 83 | 107 | 95 |
| 3 | Otello | 9-2 | 80 | 106 | 91 |
| 4 | Dancing Groom | 30-1 | 75 | 98 | 89 |
| 5 | No More Time | 12-1 | 79 | 99 | 97 |
| 6 | Domestic Product | 8-1 | 75 | 104 | 93 |
| 7 | Fierceness | 3-5 | 105 | 122 | 106 |
| 8 | Sea Streak | 20-1 | 84 | 100 | 98 |
Looking at the pace
The Holy Bull tempo should be a moderate one, with Fierceness expected to battle for early command with Inveigled.
Pace projector courtesy of TimeformUS.
HRN picks for Holy Bull and more
This week’s Super Screener has identified No More Time as a live long shot in the Holy Bull behind Fierceness.
Super Screener creator Mike Shutty said, “(No More Time) broke his maiden in his second career start, producing a big number and did so in his first go routing. In addition to needing that last start of the layoff, he lost all chance when he hopped at the start and was generally tough to handle. Assuming he’ll be better behaved here, form-cycle analysis is indicating that there is no other horse in this field that will enjoy a bigger move forward off his previous start than this José D’Angelo trainee.”
Be sure to take advantage of HRN’s $97 Super Screener offer that covers you all the way through to Kentucky Derby 2024. That’s 14 weeks of Super Screener analysis for one low price.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher joined the Ron Flatter Racing Pod to discuss the chances of Fierceness in the Holy Bull, and Paddock Prince David Levitch gives out his plays for all four Derby preps.
Matt Shifman’s Withers Stakes picks are leaning on El Grande O to get back in the winner’s circle after running second in the Jerome Stakes last month.
Laurie Ross and Ashley Tamulonis went Head to Head to handicap the Southwest Stakes and came up with different horses on top but agreed that Otto the Conqueror is a threat to hit the ticket.
Ed DeRosa’s fair odds for the Bob Lewis envision Nysos being over-bet, and while DeRosa has trouble seeing past the favorite, he’s still got an idea to make money betting both the Lewis and Holy Bull this Saturday.
Here is the field for the 2024 Holy Bull Stakes (G3):