Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Hades

Feb 05, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Hades upsets champion Fierceness (third) in the Holy Bull (Photo by Angelo Lieto/Coglianese Photos)

D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran’s Hades earned 20 points on the 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby after driving home to a two-length victory in the $260,000 Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 3. Trained by Joe Orseno, the winner clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.07 with Paco Lopez in the silks.

“A champion (Fierceness) eyeballs him and he just dug in and took off. He ran away from a very good horse,” his conditioner said. “At the top of the stretch, when he changes leads, he finds another gear. He galloped out really strong. I don’t think we got to the bottom of him yet.”

HADES wins The Holy Bull defeating the favorite Fierceness and earns 20 points on the Road to the #KyDerby! 🌹 pic.twitter.com/VcuxPop1M3

— Kentucky Derby (@KentuckyDerby) February 3, 2024

Hades made his debut at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 9 and overcame a difficult voyage to graduate in a 5 1/2-furlong dash. In his second showing, the bay led at virtually every call en route to an impressive, eight-length allowance romp. His lifetime line now reads 3-3-0-0, $225,000.

The winner was bred in the Sunshine State by Ocala Stud, Joseph O’Farrell, David O’Farrell, et al, and he fetched a final bid of $130,000 at the 2023 OBS Spring Sale in April. By Awesome Slew, the gelding is the second black-type winner produced from the unraced Quality Road mare The Shady Lady, following 2022 Astoria S. queen Devious Dame. This is the same female line as Grade 1 standouts Discreet Cat, Discreetly Mine, and Awesome Maria.

Hades has registered Brisnet Speed figures of 80-98-93 from a trio of tries to this stage of his development. He has a pedigree that is slanted more towards middle distances, but the prospect displayed a lot of courage in the Holy Bull and has to be taken seriously going forward this season. The $400,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on March 2, as well as the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on March 30, are two potential targets for Hades.