Study Guide: 2026 Holy Bull Stakes

Jan 27, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Incredibolt wins the Street Sense at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)

Florida’s Road to the Kentucky Derby kicks off on Saturday with the running of the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

Held over 1 1/16 miles, the Holy Bull awards Kentucky Derby (G1) qualification points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis. The race has produced three Kentucky Derby winners through the years: Go for Gin (1994), Funny Cide (2003), and Barbaro (2006).

Let’s meet the horses entered in the 2026 Holy Bull:

Incredibolt

Incredibolot wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Pin Oak Stud
Breeder: Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM
Trainer: Riley Mott
Jockey: Jaime Torres

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.
Total Earnings: $196,181

Sire: Bolt d’Oro
Dam: Sapphire Spitfire
Color: Dark bay/brown

Incredibolt has already found success on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, launching a strong late rally to win the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs last fall. He hasn’t run since and could prove a bit rusty in his first run of the season, but Incredibolt’s proven ability to compete at the graded stakes level makes him a logical contender in the Holy Bull.

⚡ Incredibolt goes from last to first in the G3 Street Sense and earns 10 Kentucky Derby points! @jaimetorresjcky was aboard for trainer @riley_mott.

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/w8OfRtZnmz

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 26, 2025

Roger That Dana

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Smith Ranch Stables
Breeder: Ocala Stud
Trainer: Luis Ramirez
Jockey: Renzo Rojas

Top Speed Rating: (88) when finishing second in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $103,200

Sire: Awesome Slew
Dam: Take Me to Zuber
Color: Bay

Roger That Dana has placed twice against stakes competition, most recently running second in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream. However, he’ll need to improve upon his career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating to conquer tougher foes in the Holy Bull.

Project Ace

Project Ace wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Albaugh Family Stables
Breeder: Spruce Lane Farm
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Corey Lanerie

Top Speed Rating: (85) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $77,245

Sire: War of Will
Dam: Plenty O’Toole
Color: Bay

Project Ace was narrowly best in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight at Churchill Downs last fall, closing from last place to win by a head. But he benefited from a decelerating pace, and his career-best 85 Brisnet Speed rating looks light against the Holy Bull field.

Global Aviator

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Special Aviators
Breeder: Robert M. Evans
Trainer: Rohan Crichton
Jockey: Joe Bravo

Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $24,000

Sire: Global Campaign
Dam: Frisco Girl
Color: Dark bay/brown

Global Aviator earned a promising 93 Brisnet Speed rating when battling to victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. His pedigree suggests he’ll appreciate stretching out over 1 1/16 miles, so don’t count this lightly raced colt out of the mix.

Cannoneer

Cannoneer wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables
Breeder: Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (100) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $81,300

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Catch the Moon
Color: Bay

Cannoneer looked like a budding star in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs, leading all the way to dominate by 7 1/4 lengths. He earned a powerful 100 Brisnet Speed rating and has every chance to win again in the Holy Bull.

Next up on the Two-Year-Old Tracker is recent maiden winner Cannoneer, who recorded a 100 Brisnet Speed figure with his 7 1/4-length romp at Churchill Downs on Saturday. 🤩

The Brad Cox trainee is a half-brother to Grade 1 winner Girvin plus graded stakes scorers Midnight… pic.twitter.com/aiXBGhIr4F

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) December 2, 2025

Buetane

Buetane wins maiden race at Del Mar. (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Zedan Racing Stables
Breeder: Merriebelle Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Joel Rosario

Top Speed Rating: (98) when finishing second in the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $148,000

Sire: Tiz the Law
Dam: Taboo
Color: Chestnut

After travel arrangements fell through, Hopeful (G1) runner-up Buetane will scratch from the Holy Bull.

Nearly

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Centennial Farms
Breeder: Wind Hill Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $78,950

Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Ib Prospecting
Color: Dark bay/brown

Nearly is 2-for-2 at Gulfstream Park, most recently trouncing a seven-furlong $75,000 allowance optional claimer by five lengths. The 97 Brisnet Speed rating he earned indicates he’s a logical win contender in the Holy Bull, with only Cannoneer owning a higher number among expected starters.

Bravaro

Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie S. Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables, and Paul Braverman
Breeder: Stephanie Baltzan
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning the Sleepy Hollow S. at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $154,000

Sire: Upstart
Dam: Opera Star
Color: Bay

Bred in New York, Bravaro is unbeaten in two starts against fellow New York-breds, most notably winning the one-mile Sleeping Hollow S. by 2 1/2 lengths. But he’ll need to improve upon his career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating if he’s going to beat non-state-restricted competition in the Holy Bull.

Game for It

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Gold Square, Wynnstay, and Chad Summers
Breeder: Wynnstay
Trainer: Chad Summers
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (83) when winning a $75,000 maiden optional claimer at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $38,500

Sire: Known Agenda
Dam: Manahatta
Color: Chestnut

Aqueduct maiden winner Game for It is all but certain to scratch from the Holy Bull, with the Daily Racing Form reporting he’ll target next week’s Sam F. Davis (G3) instead.