(January 17, 2004) Second Of June defeated favored Silver Wagon and vaulted to the head of the Florida Derby picture with a decisive two and three-quarter length win in Saturday's 15th running of Gulfstream's Holy Bull Stakes, the first important Kentucky Derby prep of the South Florida season.

Named for trainer Bill Cesare's birthdate, which he ironically shares with the colt, Second Of June and rider Cornelio Velasquez notched their second consecutive stakes win over the highly-regarded Silver Wagon, a Grade I winner in New York last summer whom they also defeated in Calder's What A Pleasure Stakes last month.

Sent off as the second choice at 5-2 odds, Second of June broke well but was hung four wide around the first turn while just off a moderate pace. He settled into second on the backstretch, going along comfortably outside pacesetting El Prado Rob. As the leader began to fade on the far turn, Second of June took command, with 8-5 favorite Silver Wagon and Jerry Bailey moving up on the outside. Coming into the stretch, it looked as though Silver Wagon might be able to catch the winner, but Velasquez had quite a bit of horse left. At the eighth pole, Bailey suddenly switched Silver Wagon to the inside to take another crack at Second of June. The tactic did not work as Second of June seemed to find another gear and pull away authoritatively for the final margin, stopping the clock in a solid 1:43.00 for the 1 1/16 miles.

After Silver Wagon, it was another ten lengths back to Friends Lake, who took the show photo from El Prado Rob. As the second choice, Second of June paid $7.60, $3.20, and $2.60. The $2 exacta with the favorite paid $18.20

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