Hallandale Beach, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – Local stakes winner Bluegrass Singer is most likely to start in Saturday’s $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes over the day’s $150,000 Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park.<\/p>\n
The 1 1\/16-mile Holy Bull offers points as part of the Kentucky Derby qualifying system unlike the seven-furlong Hutcheson, both important prep races, however, for 3-year-olds leading to the Florida Derby on March 28.<\/p>\n
“I’m leaning toward the Holy Bull,” Bluegrass Singer’s trainer Marcus Vitali said. “I’m trying to get some points together, and that’s kind of my decision. (jockey Javier Castellano) Javier’s got the assignment, and those two got along really good last time. I just think we’ve got to take our chances, hope for the best and shoot for the sky.”<\/p>\n
Bluegrass Singer, owned by Cross Sabres Farm, has drawn post 4 for the 10- horse Holy Bull and the far outside post for the eight-horse Hutcheson. Jockey Rafael Hernandez is listed for the Hutcheson.<\/p>\n
Bluegrass Singer, with Castellano riding, led most of the way in winning the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 3.<\/p>\n
“I brought him back into the race easy off the last race, being just three weeks between races. I figured he’s run so many times and he’s the kind of horse that keeps himself fit anyway,” Vitali said. “It can be kind of a tricky situation when you’re pointing for two races. You’ve got to train them a little different for either race. I just did my best and the horse responded to everything perfect. He’s coming into the race excellent.”<\/p>\n
Bluegrass Singer has won three of seven starts for $119,835.<\/p>\n
The 2-1 morning line favorite for the Holy Bull is Upstart, owned by Ralph M. Evans and trained by Richard Violette. The colt will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from post 8 in his 2015 debut.<\/p>\n
“He’s filled out. He was a little big leggy as a 2-year-old. I don’t think he’s gotten any taller, but there’s a little more muscle to him; he’s a little bit squarer. He looks more like an older horse than a baby now,” Violette said. “He’s pretty sharp and confident, without being mean. He has a really nice eye. He’s pretty correct. He’s a pretty clever horse.”<\/p>\n
Upstart was first or second in his first three starts before getting third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Ortiz has been in the saddle all four times as the colt has banked $463,800.<\/p>\n
“He ran a really good second and was kind of up against it in the Champagne. He confirmed his quality and he just got nailed for second in the Breeders’ Cup despite not having a whole lot in his favor. He’s underlining that he’s a significantly good horse,” Violette said. “Certainly, he belongs in the elite of the 3-year-olds this year, as long as he proves it. He’s more than just a nice New York-bred; he’s a nice horse.”<\/p>\n
Also making his 3-year-old debut Saturday will be 5-2 second pick Frosted, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Godolphin Racing. The gray colt will again be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from the inside post.<\/p>\n
“He’s been training great. He’s doing great,” said McLaughlin.<\/p>\n
Frosted was second his first two starts before winning at Aqueduct on Oct. 30. On Nov. 29 he was second, beaten a half-length, to Leave the Light On in the Remsen at Aqueduct.<\/p>\n
“He ran huge. He had the 13 hole, the track was a conveyor belt, and he was unlucky to lose. He’s a very nice horse,” said McLaughlin. Frosted has earned $150,600.<\/p>\n
Here is the field for the Holy Bull in post position order: Frosted, Irad Ortiz Jr.; Keen Ice, Edgard Zayas; High Noon Rider, Joel Rosario; Bluegrass Singer, Javier Castellano; Juan and Bina, Jose Lezcano; First Down, Rajiv Maragh; Frammento, Luis Saez; Upstart, Jose Ortiz; Dom the Bomb, Rafael Hernandez and Decision Day, John Velazquez.<\/p>\n
The Holy Bull has an approximate post time of 4:34 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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