Holy Bull

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven sophomores in need of accomplishments will travel 1 3/16 miles in the

Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. HEY BYRN (Put It Back) was our

pick in the competitive Florida Derby (G1) two weeks back, and we have to side

with him against this questionable bunch. The Eddie Plesa Jr. trainee had a useful

juvenile campaign but really turned it on over this oval at three, rolling to

impressive 14 1/2- and six-length allowance scores, prior to coming home

fourth in the Florida Derby. The bay colt ranks first in BRIS Prime Power by a big

margin and is facing six runners who are still eligible for a first-level

allowance. C. C. Lopez has the call.

We see FAMOUS PATRIOT (Repent), who is well drawn on the rail and exits a solid maiden

score for Timothy Hills, as the logical second-placer in

here. The Florida-bred was a fine third in his debut going short, and was third

against a good one two back, but finally put it together with a dominant win at

nine panels last out. The colt earned a career-best 98 BRIS Speed number last

out and gets a lot of stamina from his sire. Eddie Castro will be in the irons.

NATHAN RIDGE (Quaker Ridge) ran into a solid horse on two consecutive

occasions and has run well over this surface this year, so the gelding has a

chance at a top-three showing. The Frank Carlisi trainee is far from brilliant,

but he's been consistent and has useful tactical speed. Eduardo Nunez will be

aboard.

DREAM MAESTRO (Concerto) has never run poorly from five career tries and will

attempt to make the maiden-to-stakes jump for conditioner Bill Kaplan. The

gelded chestnut was all out to break his maiden last out, but there is no

questioning his fitness and he's a logical exotics threat under Manoel Cruz.

WEB GEM (Fusaichi Pegasus) had no chance with War Pass (Cherokee Run) two

back and improved some with a third-place effort last out, but we're not

convinced that the colt is ready to handle this distance at this juncture. 

Maiden CHIEF BEAR (Chief Seattle) has ability but we question his connections

and the way they have handled their colt. The dark bay was fifth in a maiden

race last out in the slop. BIPOLAR EXPRESS (Equality) has lost twice in

Michigan-bred stakes and has failed to hit the board in his three outings at

Tampa in 2008, so we have no idea why the gelding is in this field.