Holy Bull attracts eight; fillies compete in Forward Gal

Jan 30, 2023 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Gulfstream Park hosts scoring races for both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) on Saturday. The $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) and the
$125,000 Forward Gal (G3) each offer points on the 20-8-6-4-2 scale to the top
five finishers. 

A stepping stone on the way to the Florida Derby (G1), the 1
1/16-mile Holy Bull has attracted a field of eight colts.

Cyclone Mischief didn’t
run up to expectations in his previous attempt on the Road to the Kentucky
Derby, finishing seventh to Instant Coffee in the Nov. 26
Kentucky Jockey Club
(G2). But the son of top sire Into Mischief roared back last time out at
Gulfstream, drawing off by 5 3/4 lengths in a Jan. 8 allowance. That
performance was more like his Keeneland maiden romp, and the highly-regarded
Dale Romans pupil aims to build on it here. Tyler Gaffalione has the return
call.

Four of the contenders are renewing rivalry from the Jan. 1
Mucho Macho Man S. around Gulfstream’s one-turn mile. Legacy Isle was first
across the wire, only to be
demoted to second for drifting and causing interference. A daylight winner of his two prior starts, Legacy Isle gets a
jockey switch to Luis Saez.

• Lord Miles, a late-closing third in the Mucho Macho Man,
  likewise picks up a new pilot in Irad Ortiz Jr., and he adds blinkers, a 21%
  winning move for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. As a son of Curlin, Lord Miles figures
  to appreciate the step up in trip. Joseph’s other runner,
  West Coast Cowboy,
  was fourth to Legacy Isle in an allowance.

• Mr Bob was a troubled sixth in the Mucho Macho Man, but two
  starts back, he was a close second in the Ed Brown S. at Churchill Downs. Joel
  Rosario takes over at the helm as Mr Bob dons first-time blinkers. The
  seventh-placer from the Mucho Macho Man,
  Il Miracolo, was well beaten in the
  Dec. 3 Remsen (G2) as well and the Gun Runner colt needs to improve to factor.

• Rocket Can makes his stakes debut for Hall of Famer Bill
  Mott. The son of Into Mischief has thrived since stretching out to this
  distance and competing on both “Stars of Tomorrow” programs at Churchill. After
  breaking his maiden Oct. 30, he was runner-up in an allowance on the Kentucky
  Jockey Club undercard. Stablemate
  Shadow Dragon ventures outside New
  York-bred company, and around two turns, for the first time. He has not raced
  since a distant sixth in the Oct. 30 Sleepy Hollow S. at Aqueduct.

Ten fillies are set for the seven-furlong Forward Gal.
Atomically, who was last seen finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
(G1), is the only one with experience in a Road to the
Kentucky Oaks event. Before
joining Todd Pletcher, Atomically had run away with the My Dear Girl division
of the Florida Sire S., handing
Lynx her first loss. Lynx, earlier the winner
of the Desert Vixen and Susan’s Girl divisions, was most recently third in the
Cash Run S. Cutting back to a sprint could help.

• Red Carpet Ready brings a 2-for-2 mark from “Stars of
  Tomorrow” days at Churchill, where she aired by 10 lengths in her unveiling and
  followed up in the Nov. 26 Fern Creek S.
  Undervalued Asset rolled by more than
  eight lengths in her lone start so far at Aqueduct for Chad Brown. Godolphin’s
  Twice
  as Sweet
  captured the Smart Halo S. at Laurel Park before finishing fourth in the
  Dec. 26 Letellier Memorial S. at Fair Grounds.

• Positano Sunset broke her maiden at Churchill in her third
  try, but she’d bumped into a couple of high-profile Oaks aspirants in her first
  two outings. Fourth to eventual Untapable S. winner Pretty Mischievous, she was
  runner-up next time to Julia Shining, who came back to take the Demoiselle
  (G2).

• Arella Star tired to fourth in the Cash Run in her latest,
  but the daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist had won a pair of sprints
  here.
  Apropos, Flakes, and Adeliese’s Smile are all recent maiden winners on this track.

The Forward Gal is carded as the 10th race (4:17 p.m.), and
the Holy Bull is the finale as the 12th (5:43 p.m. ET). Watch and wager on the
Gulfstream Park action at
TwinSpires.com.