Holy Bull Stakes

Holy Bull Stakes

Class	Grade III
Location	Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida
Inaugurated	1990 (as Preview Stakes)
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Website	www.gulfstreampark.com
Race information
Distance	1+1⁄16 miles
Surface	Dirt
Track	left-handed
Qualification	Three-year-olds
Weight	124 lbs with allowances
Purse	$250,000 (2022)

The Holy Bull Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three year old horses run over the distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt, held annually in January at Gulfstream Park, Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $250,000.

History

The event was inaugurated on 7 April 1990 as the Preview Stakes over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles, ^[1] and it was created as a replacement for the Flamingo Stakes that ceased to exist following the closure of Hialeah Park Race Track. The event was held three weeks after the Florida Derby and the winner Home At Last did not run in any of the Triple Crown Races.

In 1991 the distance was decreased to 1+1⁄16 miles and in 1992 the event was rescheduled to early February thus becoming a preparatory race for the Florida Derby. ^[2]

In 1995 the Preview Stakes was upgraded to a Grade III. ^[2] That same year Gulfstream Park scheduled an event in March in honor of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame horse Holy Bull who had won the Florida Derby in 1994.

The following year in 1996, Gulfstream Park replaced the Preview Stakes with the Holy Bull Stakes which assumed the classification of the event. ^[2]

In 2008 the event was scheduled in April after the Florida Derby and run over a distance of 1+3⁄16 miles. ^[3]

The event was upgraded to Grade II in 2014 and held this status until 2019. ^[4] The event was degraded to Grade III for 2020. ^[2]

The event has produced Classic winners. The 1994 winner Go for Gin won the Kentucky Derby. In 2006 Barbaro won the event for his fourth straight win continuing on to win the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby. In 2020 Tiz the Law also won the Florida Derby continuing on to win the Belmont Stakes when it was held in late June and was the first event in the Triple Crown series which was rescheduled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The event is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby with qualification points given to the first four placegetters.

Records

Speed record:

• 1+1⁄16 miles – 1:41.62 Go for Gin (1994)
• 1 mile – 1:35.19 Dialed In (2011)
• 1+1⁄8 miles – 1:49.31 Barbaro (2006)

Margins:

• 8 lengths – Suave Prospect (1995)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 – Nick Zito (1994, 1995, 2011)
• 3 – Kiaran McLaughlin (2005, 2014, 2016)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 5 – Jerry D. Bailey (1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – William J. Condren (1994, 1995)
• 2 – Paul Braverman (2014, 2019)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
Holy Bull Stakes
2024	Hades	Paco Lopez	Joseph Orseno	D. J. Stable & Robert Cotran	1+1⁄16 miles	1:46.07	$260,000	III	[5]
2023	Rocket Can	Junior Alvarado	William I. Mott	Frank Fletcher Racing Operations	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.97	$250,000	III	[6]
2022	White Abarrio	Tyler Gaffalione	Saffie A. Joseph Jr.	C2 Racing Stable & La Milagrosa Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.80	$250,000	III	[7]
2021	Greatest Honour	Jose L. Ortiz	Claude R. McGaughey III	Courtlandt Farms	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.19	$200,000	III	[8]
2020	Tiz the Law	Manuel Franco	Barclay Tagg	Sackatoga Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.04	$250,000	III	[9]
2019	Harvey Wallbanger	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Kenneth G. McPeek	Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables, Scott Akman & Paul Braverman	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.69	$350,000	II	[10]
2018	Audible	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing	1+1⁄16 miles	1.41.92	$350,000	II	[11]
2017	Irish War Cry	Joel Rosario	H. Graham Motion	Isabelle de Tomaso	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.52	$350,000	II	[12]
2016	Mohaymen	Junior Alvarado	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Shadwell Stables	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.07	$350,000	II	[13]
2015	Upstart	Jose L. Ortiz	Richard A. Violette Jr.	Ralph M. Evans	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.61	$400,000	II	[14]
2014	Cairo Prince	Luis Saez	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Namcook Stables, Paul Braverman, Harvey A. Clarke & Craig W. Robertson III	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.16	$400,000	II	[15]
2013	Itsmyluckyday	Elvis Trujillo	Edward Plesa Jr.	Trilogy Stable & Laurie Plesa	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.81	$400,000	III	[16]
2012	Algorithms	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Starlight Racing	1 mile	1:36.17	$400,000	III	[17]
2011	Dialed In	Julien R. Leparoux	Nicholas P. Zito	Robert V. LaPenta	1 mile	1:35.19	$400,000	III	[18]
2010	Winslow Homer	Ramon A. Dominguez	Anthony W. Dutrow	Fox Hill Farms	1 mile	1:35.97	$150,000	III	[19]
2009	Saratoga Sinner	Julien R. Leparoux	Eddie Kenneally	Lally Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:51.45	$150,000	III	[20]
2008	Hey Byrn	Charles C. Lopez	Edward Plesa Jr.	Beatrice Oxenberg	1+3⁄16 miles	1:58.14	$150,000	III	[21]
2007	Nobiz Like Shobiz	Cornelio Velasquez	Barclay Tagg	Elizabeth J. Valando	1 mile	1:35.47	$150,000	III	[22]
2006	Barbaro	Edgar S. Prado	Michael R. Matz	Lael Stables	1+1⁄8 miles	1:49.31	$150,000	III	[23]
2005	Closing Argument	Cornelio Velasquez	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	Philip & Marcia Cohen	1+1⁄8 miles	1:50.14	$150,000	III	[24]
2004	Second of June	Cornelio Velasquez	William J. Cesare	Barbara Cesare	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.00	$100,000	III	[25]
2003	Offlee Wild	Mark Guidry	Thomas Victor Smith	Azalea Stables	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.00	$100,000	III	[26]
2002	Booklet	Eibar Coa	John T. Ward Jr.	John C. Oxley	1+1⁄16 miles	1:46.16	$100,000	III	[27]
2001	Radical Riley	Eduardo O. Nunez	James Hatchett	Jacks or Better Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:46.06	$100,000	III	[28]
2000	Hal's Hope	Roger I. Velez	Harold J. Rose	Harold J. Rose Trust	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.52	$100,000	III	[29]
1999	Grits'n Hard Toast	Robbie Davis	Thomas Victor Smith	Thomas Victor Smith & Robert A. Anderson	1+1⁄16 miles	1:45.32	$100,000	III	[30]
1998	Cape Town	Jerry D. Bailey	D. Wayne Lukas	Overbrook Farm	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.15	$100,000	III	[31]
1997	Arthur L.	John R. Velazquez	Luis Olivares	Cobble View Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:42.93	$100,000	III	[32]
1996	Cobra King	Chris McCarron	Mike Puype	Betty Biszantz	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.42	$75,000	III	[33]
1995	Royal Mitch	Robbie Davis	Dennis W. Ebert	Crown Stable	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.03	$50,000		[34]
Preview Stakes
1995	Suave Prospect	Jerry D. Bailey	Nicholas P. Zito	William J. Condren & Michael H. Sherman	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.03	$75,000	III	[35]
1994	Go for Gin	Jerry D. Bailey	Nicholas P. Zito	William J. Condren & Joseph Cornacchia	1+1⁄16 miles	1:41.62	$75,000	Listed	[36]
1993	Pride of Burkaan	Jerry D. Bailey	Leo Azpurua Jr.	R. Johnson & G. Murchison	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.74	$75,000	Listed	[37]
1992	Waki Warrior	Earlie Fires	William G. Huffman	Stanley Lowenbraun	1+1⁄16 miles	1:44.32	$130,430	Listed	[38]
1991	Shoot to Kill	Wigberto S. Ramos	Linda L. Rice	Clyde D. Rice	1+1⁄16 miles	1:43.54	$200,000	Listed	[39]
1990	Home At Last	Jerry D. Bailey	Carl A. Nafzger	Russell L Reineman Stable	1+1⁄8 miles	1:53.20	$233,600		[40]

See also

List of American and Canadian Graded races

External links

• 2020–21 Gulfstream Park Media Guide Archived 2021-02-26 at the Wayback Machine

References

1. "Cryptoclearance Is Retired Because of Injury to a Ligament". New York Times, Section D., page 21. 21 February 1990. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
2. "Holy Bull Stakes Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
3. "HOLY BULL STAKES - MULTIPLE TRACKS". Thoroughbred Pedigree Online. 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
4. "Eight Stakes Elevated in Status for 2014". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
5. "2024 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 (race 12)". Equibase. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
6. "2023 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
7. "2022 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
8. "2021 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
9. "2020 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 1 February 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
10. "2019 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes Grade 2 - (race 11)". Equibase. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
11. "2018 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 2 - (race 12)". Equibase. 3 February 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
12. "2017 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes Grade 2 - (race 12)". Equibase. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
13. "2016 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes Grade 2 - (race 11)". Equibase. 30 January 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
14. "2015 Lambholm South Holy Bull Stakes Grade 2 - (race 9)". Equibase. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
15. "2014 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 2 - (race 10)". Equibase. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
16. "2013 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
17. "2012 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 29 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
18. "2011 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
19. "2010 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
20. "2009 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
21. "2008 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 12 April 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
22. "2007 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase. 3 February 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
23. "2006 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 4 February 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
24. "2005 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 5 February 2005. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
25. "2004 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 17 January 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
26. "2003 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 18 January 2003. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
27. "2002 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase. 19 January 2002. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
28. "2001 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 20 January 2001. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
29. "2000 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 15 January 2000. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
30. "1999 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 16 January 1999. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
31. "1998 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 17 January 1998. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
32. "1997 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 18 January 1997. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
33. "1996 Holy Bull Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase. 20 January 1996. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
34. "1995 Holy Bull Stakes Black Type - (race 5)". Equibase. 11 March 1995. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
35. "1995 Preview Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase. 21 January 1995. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
36. "1994 Preview Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 22 January 1994. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
37. "1993 Preview Stakes Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 23 January 1993. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
38. "1992 Preview Stakes Listed - (race 10)". Equibase. 9 February 1992. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
39. "1991 Preview Stakes Listed - (race 9)". Equibase. 6 April 1991. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
40. Spencer, Clark (8 April 1990). "Third Choice Home at Last surprises in Preview Stakes (1990 Preview Stakes – race 9: held 7 April 1990)". The Miami Herald . p. 60. Retrieved 25 January 2021.