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2023 Holy Bull Stakes Best Bets and Picks for Saturday Derby Prep

by Dave Schwab - 2/1/2023

Oxbow, ridden by Gary Stevens

The beginning of February at Gulfstream Park marks the start of the Kentucky Derby prep races and the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes on Saturday. This Grade 3 stakes event is open to three-year colts and the race covers 1 1/16 miles on dirt.

Here are my top five contenders to race in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream and their morning line odds to win:

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Lord Miles (5-2)

As a favorite in the Hoy Bull, the Kentucky-bred colt has raced at Gulfstream Park in two prior races. He finished first in the six-furlong Maiden Special Weight sprint this November as a juvenile. Lord Miles placed third in the ungraded Mucho Macha Man Stakes on Jan. 1 to make his three-year old debut. Saffie Joseph Jr. is the trainer, and he is ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. out of the No. 1.

Cyclone Mischief (3-1)

Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, he is positioned No. 4 in the lineup. Cyclone Mischief is the son of Into Mischief, and he finished first in the one-mile sprint on Jan. 8 of this year. He covered that race in 1:36.48 over Litigate and Mr. Ripple. As a three-year old Kentucky-bred colt, Cyclone Mischief raced his career at Churchill Downs and Keeneland Racing Course before moving on to Gulfstream.

Legacy Isle (7-2)

This three-year colt has raced at Gulfstream Park his entire career. Legacy Isle won the six-furlong Maiden Special Weight race on Sept. 24 and won the one-mile Allowance race on Nov. 27 as a juvenile. His debut as a three-year old in the Mucho Macha Man Stakes ended up with a second-place finish after drifting out in the stretch to cause a disqualification. He is trained by Rohan Crichton and his jockey is Luis Saez in the No. 6 gate for this race.

Rocket Can (6-1)

He began his juvenile career at Saratoga Race Course in a pair of seven-furlong Maiden Special Weight sprints. Rocket Can moved up in distance for 1 1/16 miles on dirt with a first-place run and a second-place run at Churchill Downs later in his two-year campaign. Also a sire of Into Mischief, he is making his three-year debut at Gulfstream Park in the Holy Bull.

Mr. Bob (8-1)

Starting out with the No. 5 gate in the Holy Bull Stakes, Mr. Bob has Joel Rosario as his jockey. He is trained by Robert Falcone Jr. and he has raced for Robert LaPenta. He stumbled to a sixth-pace finish in the Mucho Macha Man Stakes after finishing third at Saratoga, first at Keeneland and second at Churchill Downs in his juvenile campaign. Mr. Bob will be making his second start as a three-year old at Gulfstream in this race.

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