Expert Pick of the Week: Holy Bull Stakes

Jan 28, 2021 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A field of nine 3-year-old prospects will take aim at Gulfstream Park on Saturday in the $200,000 Holy Bull (G3). The 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event offers points on a 10-4-2-1 basis to the top-four finishers towards qualifying for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 1.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Prime Factor was among the more impressive maiden winners at the meeting and looms large in his stakes debut. The expensive son of Quality Road has trained in swift fashion following his dynamic debut waltz, and the $900,000 yearling purchase is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Bred in Kentucky, the bay colt was unveiled on December 12 in a 6-furlong maiden special weight event and went off at 2-1 odds in the nine-horse field. The then-juvenile tracked the early tempo before taking over nearing the turn for home under Irad Ortiz, and he never looked back en route to a facile 8 3/4-length score.

Prime Factor has posted five strong morning moves in preparation for his black-type bow, and he appears to be sitting on another top performance. Irad will once again be in the stirrups atop the exciting youngster.

The top pick is bred to handle the distance with ease as he hails from a female line full of class. Canadian champions Classy ‘n Smart, her daughter Dance Smartly, and her granddaughter Dancethruthedawn are just a few of the prolific names on the catalog page of Prime Factor.

Greatest Honour has the look of a fine long-term prospect for conditioner Shug McGaughey. The Tapit colt broke through in his fourth start most recently on the surface, and he will be moving best of all in the stretch on Saturday.

The Courtlandt Farms homebred is cut out to be a Triple Crown trail type, as his dam is a half-sister to Belmont (G1) winners Rags to Riches and Jazil. Greatest Honour has registered Brisnet Late Pace figures of 106 and 110 in his last two tries and will be passing tired horses in the lane beneath Jose Ortiz.

An exacta with #6 Prime Factor on top of #7 Greatest Honour is the Best Bet of the Week.