Nearly, Incredibolt clash in Holy Bull

After a dull start to his racing career at Aqueduct in October, Nearly has dazzled in a pair of starts this winter at Gulfstream Park. He will look to continue that momentum into his stakes debut Saturday in the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3).

The Holy Bull, over 1 1/16 miles, offers Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points of 20-10-6-4-2 to the respective top five finishers. Nine were entered, though Butane and Game for It are reported defectors.

Not so Nearly, who rebounded in his second start to beat a field of Florida-bred maidens by 9 1/4 lengths going six furlongs. He looked just as good facing allowance foes earlier this month, drawing off to win by five lengths despite receiving a hard bump at the start of the seven-furlong heat.

Two colts who turned heads in Kentucky last fall will draw attention. Incredibolt was a back-to-back winner at Churchill Downs, including a 1 3/4-length decision in the Street Sense (G3) in his two-turn debut. Cannoneer was very sharp in a seven-furlong allowance on Nov. 29, winning by 7 1/4 lengths in what was his first outing since early June.

Saffie Joseph, who trained the top two finishers in last weekend's Pegasus World Cup (G1), will be represented by Bravaro, who went 2-for-2 in New York-bred company last fall, including a victory in the Sleepy Hollow S. Global Aviator won an above-average six-furlong maiden event on debut by a neck at Gulfstream on Nov. 29, while Roger That Dana will have to improve off distant second in the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man S.

The $175,000 Forward Gal (G3), for three-year-old fillies over seven furlongs, has come up highly competitive. Although a Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep (20-10-6-4-2 points distribution), its seven-furlong distance appears to have attracted more in the way of sprint specialists.

Mythical has won five of six, including four stakes, the most recent being the 1 1/16-mile My Dear Girl division of the Florida Sires S. On Time Girl was an easy winner of the Fern Creek S. at the end of the Churchill fall meet, while Tessellate and Sneaky Good both exits stakes triumphs at Tampa Bay Downs.

Others that might make some noise are recent graduate Imperatrice, Kentucky shipper Music Burst, and the multiple stakes-placed Secane.

Leading contenders in the $175,000 Swale S., a seven-furlong dash for three-year-olds, are Solitude Dude, a stakes-winning son of Yaupon who has won his first two starts by a combined 17 1/2 lengths, and the Todd Pletcher-trained debut winner Class President.

Also on Saturday, Sister Troienne will look to win her third stakes win in a row in the $175,000 Sweetest Chant S., a 1 1/16-mile grass test for three-year-old fillies. The newly gelded Alpyland will look to follow up on his New Year's Day score in the Dania Beach S. in the $175,000 Kitten's Joy S., also at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.