Expert Pick of the Week: 2022 Holy Bull Stakes

Feb 03, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A fine field of nine three-year-olds will travel 1 1/16 miles on the Gulfstream Park dirt in Saturday’s $250,000 Holy Bull S. (G3). The 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series event will reward the top four finishers of the race with qualifying points (10-4-2-1) towards the Run for the Roses on May 7 at Churchill Downs.

The Antonio Sano-trained Simplification led throughout in his four-length romp in the Mucho Macho Man S. last time out, and the son of Not This Time appears to be the one to catch once again in his first try at 1 1/16 miles. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Simplification debuted on October 1 on the All-Weather at Gulfstream and came home an even fifth in a maiden special weight test. In his second run, the Florida-bred moved to the dirt and responded in a big way, readily taking over prior to the turn for home and streaking clear to a resounding 16-length romp in the six-furlong dash. The colt faltered in his first try with winners when third in an allowance sprint, but he responded well to the stretch out in distance most recently en route to registering his initial black-type score.

The bay is bred to handle the added ground with ease on Saturday, and I expect him to gun to the front like last time and lead this field from the opening bell. Simplification will be plenty fit with a pair of recent six-furlong workouts in advance of Saturday, and while he may not be the top classic prospect in the field, the talented sophomore is the ‘now’ horse in the group. Javier Castellano retains the mount.

Remsen S. (G2) victor Mo Donegal is a prime Triple Crown candidate from the barn of Todd Pletcher. The son of fine sire Uncle Mo rallied into a dawdling pace last time out when getting the better of a very good prospect in Zandon, and he has trained well in the interim. Bred in the Bluegrass State, the bay might not possess the best running style for the course, but he drew well near the rail and expects to save ground throughout. Irad Ortiz has the call.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #4 Simplification on top of #2 Mo Donegal in the Holy Bull Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.