Prime Factor tops nine in the Holy Bull

Jan 27, 2021 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

A brilliant 8 3/4-length maiden winner, Prime Factor will make his highly-anticipated stakes debut in Saturday’s $200,000 Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The exciting Quality Road colt faces eight challengers in the 1 1/16-mile test.

The Holy Bull awards points on a 10-4-2-1 scale to the top four finishers. It’s the first of three Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifiers at Gulfstream.

A $900,000 yearling purchase, Prime Factor romped impressively at first asking for two-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher. He will stretch out to two turns for owners WinStar Farm and China Horse Racing Club, the same connections of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, and Prime Factor promises to show speed with Irad Ortiz Jr.

Pletcher also has entered Amount, who stamped himself as a colt to watch when rallying to win his initial outing going away by a 5 3/4-length margin on Dec. 26. Luis Saez will replace Irad Ortiz aboard the chestnut son of Curlin.

Iroquois S. (G3) winner Sittin On Go, sixth most recently in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), will open his 3-year-old season for Dale Romans. Corey Lanerie rides. Papetu and Awesome Gerry, second and third in the Jan. 2 Mucho Macho Man S., are also looking to make an impact.

Greatest Honour merits respect for Kentucky Derby winner Shug McGaughey following a sharp maiden tally at Gulfstream on Dec. 26. The Tapit colt was flattered when third-placer Another Duke came back to break his maiden on the Pegasus World Cup undercard last Saturday.

Jirafales, Tarantino, and Willy Boi round out the field.