2026 Holy Bull Stakes Entries at Gulfstream Park

Grade 3 Holy Bull Offers 20-10-6-4-2 Kentucky Derby Points

UPDATE: JAN 27 - Buetane, runner-up in the Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga last September and Grade 2 San Vicente at Santa Anita three weeks ago, is not going to make the trip from California, trainer Bob Baffert said Monday. Baffert said Buetane's Tuesday flight was canceled due to weather concerns.

Game for It, a debut winner sprinting at Aqueduct on Dec. 10, is "99 percent" certain to scratch and wait for the Sam. F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7, trainer Chad Summers said.

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The 2026 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) will run at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 31 and offers Kentucky Derby qualifications points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis.

The 152nd running of the $5 million guaranteed Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) will be run on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 and for the ninth consecutive year, a tiered point system in select races will determine who qualifies to America's greatest race.

The 37th running of the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull is also the next step on Gulfstream Park's road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 28. It is supported by four other stakes for sophomores totaling $925,000 in purses including the $165,000 Fasig-Tipton Forward Gal (G3) for fillies sprinting seven furlongs.

Jan 28 - Riley Mott followed in the footsteps of his father Bill Mott while pursuing a career as a thoroughbred trainer and is currently working on following the Hall of Famer into the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner's circle with Pin Oak Stud LLC's Incredibolt.

The younger Mott, whose father saddled 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty for a victory in last year's first jewel of the Triple Crown, will take a significant step on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Saturday at Gulfstream Park, where he will saddle Incredibolt for a start in the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3).

Riley Mott already followed his father's lead when he visited the Churchill Downs winner's circle Oct. 26 after saddling Incredibolt for a victory in the Street Sense (G3), a race won by Sovereignty a year earlier at the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull distance. The son of Bolt d'Oro rallied from seventh in the Street Sense before drawing clear by 1 ¾ lengths.

"The two-turn question is a big question. He's answered that. He's won at Churchill Downs, which is a positive for sure," Mott said. "He's out of an Awesome Again mare, which just screams distance. We're hopeful and excited to have him in the barn."

Incredibolt, who raced evenly to finish fourth following a wide trip in his six-furlong career debut at Ellis Park Aug. 22, graduated in his second start a month later in a one-turn mile at Churchill Downs, where he closely stalked the pace before drawing off by two lengths. He went on to win his stakes debut in the Street Sense in his next start to conclude his juvenile campaign.

"He's done very well this winter, wintering down here in Florida. He had a pretty productive 2-year-old year, breaking his maiden and winning the Street Sense Stakes," Mott said. "We gave him a planned vacation at Pin Oak Stud, and they kept him ticking over for us until the beginning of December, at which point he came down here. He hasn't missed a beat."

Incredibolt, rated third at 9-2 on the morning line, has produced a strong series of six workouts at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County.

Jaime Torres, who rode Incredibolt in all three of his starts, has the return call for the Holy Bull, in which they will break from the rail post position.

Centennial Farms' Nearly, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, will make his first start around two turns in the Holy Bull winning two recent sprints at Gulfstream in dominating fashion.

"Everything to us indicates that [two turns] should be to his advantage," Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He's always trained like a horse that wanted more distance and he's got the pedigree to do it, so we're excited about stretching him out."

The son of Not This Time finished a disappointing sixth and last in his Oct. 26 career debut at Aqueduct but has blossomed since shipping south. He defeated fellow Florida-breds by 9 ¼ lengths at six furlongs Nov. 22 at Gulfstream, where he returned Jan. 2 to defeat open company at seven furlongs by five going-away lengths.

"He's been doing great. His two runs at Gulfstream have been what we were hoping for," Pletcher said. "We were perplexed with his debut where he was very green and didn't run as well as we thought he would. But he's backed that up with two impressive performances and I like the way he's been training coming into this."

Pletcher, who saddled Audible for victories in the Holy Bull and Florida Derby in 2018, has awarded the return mount aboard Nearly to Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who saddled hard-knocking Skippylongstocking and White Abarrio for a thrilling 1-2 finish in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at Gulfstream last Saturday, will be represented by up-and-coming Bravaro in the Holy Bull. The son of Upstart, who is owned by Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stable LLC, BAG Racing Stables and Paul Braverman, is undefeated in two starts, both achieved against fellow New York-breds at Aqueduct.

Bravaro won his six-furlong debut Sept. 26 by a length before capturing the one-turn mile Sleepy Hollow Stakes by 2 ½ lengths Oct. 25. He rallied from well off the pace in both victories.

"He's won his two races well and he's worked very good," said Joseph, who saddled White Abarrio for victories in the 2022 Holy Bull and Curlin Florida Derby. "He's never gone two turns yet, but he acts like he can do it in good order."

Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Skippylongstocking to victory in the Pegasus World Cup, is slated to ride Bravaro for the first time.

St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables LLC's Cannoneer will make his 2026 debut in the Holy Bull while trying two turns for the first time.

The son of Into Mischief, who debuted with a disappointing third-place finish as the odds-on favorite last June at Churchill, returned from a six-month layoff to break his maiden by 7 ¼ lengths Nov. 29 going seven furlongs at the Louisville, KY track.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return mount aboard the Brad Cox trainee, who is rated second at 2-1 on the morning line.

Albaugh Family Stables LLC's Project Ace will enter the Holy Bull off a pair of strong efforts at 1 1/16 miles that followed a third-place finish at seven furlongs in his Sept. 18 debut at Churchill Downs. Stretching out around two turns for the first time, the son of War of Will rallied from far back to miss by a nose in a Keeneland maiden race a month later. The Dale Romans trainee graduated in his next outing at Churchill Nov. 15 with a late-rallying score by a head.

Corey Lanerie has the return mount on Project Ace.

Smith Ranch Stables' Roger That Dana, who finished second in the one-turn mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 3 at Gulfstream, and Special Aviators LLC's Global Aviator, who is coming off a rallying victory in his six-furlong debut at Gulfstream, round out the field of expected starters.

Bob Baffert-trained Buetane was entered in the Holy Bull but will not run due to a flight cancellation. Chad Summer's Game for It was also an entrant but isn't expected to go to post.

Project Ace Eyes 2026 Triple Crown Participation

Jan 29 - Dale Romans will saddle Project Ace (Albaugh Family Stables LLC) for a start in Saturday's $275,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park with the belief that the son of War of Will has the potential to participate in the 2026 Triple Crown.

"I think his running style puts him in the game. We'll give him a chance. We'll figure out his level this weekend," Romans said. "I know he's got some quality about him. I love his running style. He does everything right. Smart horse."

The Holy Bull, a 1 1/16-mile prep for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28 at Gulfstream, will headline a 12-race program with five stakes for 3-year-olds.

Project Ace will make his 2026 debut in the Holy Bull after breaking his maiden at 1 1/16 miles to finish off his 2-year-old campaign. After closing from 12th to third in his career debut going six furlongs at Churchill Downs Sept.16, he closed from far back to come up a nose short of victory at 1 1/16 miles Oct. 18 at Keeneland. He graduated at the Holy Bull distance with a last-to-first rally at Churchill Downs Nov. 15.

"He's going to improve with distance and time," Romans said. "He'll be settling and come running. That's just his style and he's always trained that way. That's the way he's run and he'll keep running that way."

Races at 1 1/16 miles run around Gulfstream's 1 1/8-mile main track finish at the first finish line, which may be at Project Ace's disadvantage.

"He's going to do his thing. The most concerning thing is the short stretch. He'll have to get running a bit on the turn," Romans said. "Hopefully, there'll be a fast pace and he'll get some horses to pick up at the end."

Project Ace is expected to face six rivals, including Nearly, the 9-5 morning-line favorite who will make his stakes debut following back-to-back wins at Gulfstream for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, Riley Mott-trained Incredibolt, who captured the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) at Churchill in his last 2025 start, and Brad Cox-trained Cannoneer, an impressive front-running maiden winner at Churchill who is expected to be a strong pace factor Saturday.

Romans would take special satisfaction should Project Ace continue to develop into a Triple Crown-calibre colt for the Albaugh Family Stables, long-time clients for whom he has trained graded-stakes winners Not This Time, Brody's Cause, Dennis' Moment and Free Drop Billy.

"They always do the right thing. They run a great program, and you want to do well for them," Romans said.

Corey Lanerie, who has been aboard Project Ace in his three races, has the return mount in the Holy Bull.

Bravaro & Incredibolt Targeting 2026 Holy Bull Stakes (G3)

Grade 3 winner Incredibolt, undefeated New York-bred stakes winner Bravaro and Nearly, on a two-race win streak, are each targeting the $275,000 Holy Bull (G3) Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park.

The 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull for 3-year-olds is the next step on Gulfstream's road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28, preceded by the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 3 and followed by the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2), also at 1 1/16 miles.

Pin Oak Stud's Incredibolt, trained by Riley Mott, has won back-to-back races starting with a two-length maiden triumph Sept. 28 going one mile in his second start. Last out he went last-to-first to capture the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense (G3) Oct. 26.

Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stables, BAG Racing Stables and Paul Braverman's Bravaro is two-for-two, both at Aqueduct against New York-breds. The Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee graduated by a length sprinting six furlongs then won the one-mile Sleepy Hollow Oct. 26 by 2 ½ lengths. Joseph won the 2022 Holy Bull with White Abarrio.

Centennial Farms' Nearly was an eye-catching 9 ¼-length maiden winner sprinting six furlongs against Florida-breds Nov. 22 at Gulfstream, where he returned to beat winners in an open seven-furlong allowance by five lengths Jan. 2. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Holy Bull twice, with Algorithms in 2012 and Audible in 2018.

Also under consideration for the Holy Bull are last-out maiden winners Cannoneer, Game for It, Global Aviator and Project Ace, as well as Mucho Macho Man runner-up Roger That Dana and Thunder Chuck, second in Gulfstream's Nov. 22 Juvenile Sprint and third in the Mucho Macho Man.

The 37th running of the Holy Bull is one of five stakes for 3-year-olds, two graded, worth $975,000 in purses on the program. Sophomore fillies move closer to the $275,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) March 28 in the $175,000 Forward Gal (G3) sprinting seven furlongs.

Leading the Forward Gal nominees are Arindel homebred Mythical, a winner of five of six starts including stakes victories in the Tremont and Adirondack (G3) in New York and Gulfstream's FSS Susan's Girl and My Dear Girl against Florida-breds; and Mike Repole's Zany, undefeated in two starts including the Dec. 6 Demoiselle (G2).

Also on the Holy Bull undercard are the $175,000 Sweetest Chant for fillies and $175,000 Kitten's Joy, each scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on the grass, and $175,000 Swale sprinting seven furlongs on the main track.

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