He closed the argument about his own ability to race competitively at a distance of ground, but Closing Argument's victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the mile and an eighth, $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes did little to settle anything else, as several of his rivals appeared compromised by other factors including bad racing luck. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained victor benefited from a ground-saving trip to pull off the mild upset in the first of three, major Kentucky Derby prep races in South Florida, returning $17.80 for the win.

Owned by Marcia and Phillip Cohen, Closing Argument tucked in along the rail in the early stages of the Holy Bull, chasing pacesetter Kansas City Boy, who would wind up in second place, 1-1/2 lengths behind the winner. The favorite High Fly, undefeated going into the race but drawn to the outside of the eight-horse field, suffered a horrible trip under jockey Eddie Castro and raced wide throughout much of the grade III event, ending up a tiring third, a half-length behind Kansas City Boy.

"At least this answers the question about getting the distance," said McLaughlin of his Succesful Appeal colt. "You don't worry about it, well, yeah, you do worry about it, but I was pretty confident. Post position was a big factor. The favorite was hung wide the whole way, and that's a pretty tough spot to be. Cornelio Velasquez rode my horse great today."

"My trip was great," Velasquez elaborated. "He broke good, put himself into a great position. At the half-mile pole, he had to go and he responded. This is a very good horse."

Bred in Florida by Frances and Irwin Wheeler, Closing Argument was purchased last April out of the Ocala Breeders' Sale for $100,000 and has now earned over half a million dollars. Last year, the colt captured the first two starts of his career including a small, restricted stakes race at Delaware Park, and he posted back-to-back runner-up finishes in his final two starts of 2004, a sprint stakes at Calder Race Course in Florida and the $1 million Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs in Louisiana. McLaughlin, who worked in Dubai for several years before returning to the US to train, has several options in mind for Closing Argument.

"We've talked about going to the UAS Derby (in Dubai on March 26), but now that he's won this, we haven't really decided. It's great for me to have been there for 10 years. I think that a big advantage for me. But if we don't go, then we're talking Florida Derby, Wood Memorial, Arkansas Derby, Blue Grass-any of those. Nothing has been decided for sure."

Bill White, the trainer of High Fly, was equally noncommittal.

"It appeared that, turning for home, it was a three-horse race and he just got a little tired late. We're certainly disappointed to lose, but I still think he ran a very good race. He would have been second, but I guess he shied from the whip there at the end. I'd have to think that, eventually, with this two-turn race under his belt, he could move farther."

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