Expert Pick of the Week: Holy Bull Stakes
Jan 29, 2025
Ferocious breaking his maiden at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photos)
A cast of seven talented sophomores will travel 1 1/16 miles over the main strip at Gulfstream Park in Saturday’s $265,000 Holy Bull S. (G3). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 structure. Two-time Grade-1 placed Ferocious will make his three-year-old bow in the tilt and he gets top billing as the Expert Pick of the Week.
Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the son of Flatter was purchased for a hefty $1.3 million at OBS this past March and showed why following his excellent debut victory at Saratoga on August 3. The son of Flatter closed with superb energy during his unveiling to win by 7 3/4 lengths while earning a stout 99 Brisnet Speed figure in the process. He ran in spots in his subsequent performance when second to Chancer McPatrick in the Hopeful S. (G1), which was followed by a runner-up effort at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) on October 5. In his two-year-old finale, Ferocious did not have a smooth journey when fifth in the deep Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
The Kentucky-bred colt shows a pair of solid local morning moves in preparation for his first run of the season and will race with blinkers on for the initial time, which I feel will move the dark bay forward. While I would prefer to see more published works in preparation for a race like this one, I trust that the connections will have him fit and ready for Saturday. Javier Castellano retains the mount and will have Ferocious tracking the pace from the second flight early while saving ground throughout.
Early speed is always a major weapon in route races on the surface and expected pacesetter Guns Loaded will benefit most as the one to catch. The $800,000 son of Gun Runner led throughout in his first route try in the Mucho Macho Man S. locally and could be clear from the start once again. Conditioned by Jose D’Angelo, the talented colt has posted a pair of progressive morning drills in advance of his graded stakes debut and picks up Irad Ortiz, Jr. which is always a benefit. He will be tough to pass late with improvement off of his latest performance.
Expert Pick
An exacta with #2 Ferocious on top of #4 Guns Loaded in the 2025 Holy Bull Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.
Kentucky Derby week, spring meet tickets go on sale Thursday (Jan 30, 2025) at noon!
2025 Kentucky Derby week special events:
- Opening Night: The Great Gatsby, A Louisville Legacy | Saturday, April 26
- Dawn at the Downs Dining | Sunday, April 27 and Monday, April 28
- 502’sDay: Celebrating Ali, Louisville’s Greatest | Wednesday, April 30
- Thurby / Taste of Derby | Thursday, May 1
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