Holy Bull attracts eight; fillies compete in Forward Gal

Legacy Isle finished first but was demoted to second in the Mucho Macho Man (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Gulfstream Park hosts scoring races for both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Oaks (G1) on Saturday. The $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) and the $125,000 Forward Gal (G3) each offer points on the 20-8-6-4-2 scale to the top five finishers. 

A stepping stone on the way to the Florida Derby (G1), the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull has attracted a field of eight colts.

Cyclone Mischief didn’t run up to expectations in his previous attempt on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing seventh to Instant Coffee in the Nov. 26 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). But the son of top sire Into Mischief roared back last time out at Gulfstream, drawing off by 5 3/4 lengths in a Jan. 8 allowance. That performance was more like his Keeneland maiden romp, and the highly-regarded Dale Romans pupil aims to build on it here. Tyler Gaffalione has the return call.

Four of the contenders are renewing rivalry from the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man S. around Gulfstream’s one-turn mile. Legacy Isle was first across the wire, only to be demoted to second for drifting and causing interference. A daylight winner of his two prior starts, Legacy Isle gets a jockey switch to Luis Saez.

• Lord Miles, a late-closing third in the Mucho Macho Man, likewise picks up a new pilot in Irad Ortiz Jr., and he adds blinkers, a 21% winning move for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. As a son of Curlin, Lord Miles figures to appreciate the step up in trip. Joseph’s other runner, West Coast Cowboy, was fourth to Legacy Isle in an allowance.

• Mr Bob was a troubled sixth in the Mucho Macho Man, but two starts back, he was a close second in the Ed Brown S. at Churchill Downs. Joel Rosario takes over at the helm as Mr Bob dons first-time blinkers. The seventh-placer from the Mucho Macho Man, Il Miracolo, was well beaten in the Dec. 3 Remsen (G2) as well and the Gun Runner colt needs to improve to factor.

• Rocket Can makes his stakes debut for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. The son of Into Mischief has thrived since stretching out to this distance and competing on both “Stars of Tomorrow” programs at Churchill. After breaking his maiden Oct. 30, he was runner-up in an allowance on the Kentucky Jockey Club undercard. Stablemate Shadow Dragon ventures outside New York-bred company, and around two turns, for the first time. He has not raced since a distant sixth in the Oct. 30 Sleepy Hollow S. at Aqueduct.

Ten fillies are set for the seven-furlong Forward Gal. Atomically, who was last seen finishing seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), is the only one with experience in a Road to the Kentucky Oaks event. Before joining Todd Pletcher, Atomically had run away with the My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sire S., handing Lynx her first loss. Lynx, earlier the winner of the Desert Vixen and Susan’s Girl divisions, was most recently third in the Cash Run S. Cutting back to a sprint could help.

• Red Carpet Ready brings a 2-for-2 mark from “Stars of Tomorrow” days at Churchill, where she aired by 10 lengths in her unveiling and followed up in the Nov. 26 Fern Creek S. Undervalued Asset rolled by more than eight lengths in her lone start so far at Aqueduct for Chad Brown. Godolphin’s Twice as Sweet captured the Smart Halo S. at Laurel Park before finishing fourth in the Dec. 26 Letellier Memorial S. at Fair Grounds.

• Positano Sunset broke her maiden at Churchill in her third try, but she’d bumped into a couple of high-profile Oaks aspirants in her first two outings. Fourth to eventual Untapable S. winner Pretty Mischievous, she was runner-up next time to Julia Shining, who came back to take the Demoiselle (G2).

• Arella Star tired to fourth in the Cash Run in her latest, but the daughter of 2016 Kentucky Derby hero Nyquist had won a pair of sprints here. Apropos, Flakes, and Adeliese’s Smile are all recent maiden winners on this track.

The Forward Gal is carded as the 10th race (4:17 p.m.), and the Holy Bull is the finale as the 12th (5:43 p.m. ET). Watch and wager on the Gulfstream Park action at TwinSpires.com.