Beethoven Headlines Holy Bull Stakes

by Patricia Woo | Jan 26 2009

Gulfstream Park will only just have started to recover from the excitement of hosting last weekend's Sunshine Millions when the contenders for the $150,000 Gr. 3 Holy Bull Stakes line up in the starting gate. This 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds will give those betting on the Kentucky Derby a good look at the early season form of some high profile potential Derby contenders. Atomic Rain, Danger to Society and Beethoven are among those slated to take to the dirt in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Saturday, Jan. 31.

Atomic Rain has history on his side: Just like the last three Kentucky Derby winners (Big Brown, Street Sense and Barbaro), this exciting prospect hails from South Florida. Trained by Kelly Breen, Atomic Rain is a Smart Strike colt whose last outing netted him a runner-up finish in the Gr. 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 30, 7 ½ lengths behind Old Fashioned. On Jan. 8, the bay colt had to settle for second best once more in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park, out-battled to the wire by Free Country. Owners Lori and George Hall will be looking for a big race from their top Derby prospect.

Purchased for $300,000 at the Fasig-Tipton yearling sale in July, Danger to Society is another of 2009’s promising 3-year-olds. This Kenneth McPeek trainee last raced in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park, turning in a solid victory over the 1 1/8-mile course in 1:51.16. As well, he boasts experience on the future site of the Kentucky Derby, too; the Harlan’s Holiday colt broke his maiden at Churchill Downs in November 2008 at the same distance. The Holy Bull Stakes will be Danger to Society’s first crack at a graded stakes title.

Beethoven is probably the best known and most experienced 3-year-old in the lineup. He showed great potential in his final race of 2008 – and his first foray into graded stakes company – winning the Gr. 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and $99,994 at Churchill Downs for trainer John Ward over two other highly regarded 3-year-olds, Giant Oak and Capt. Candyman Can. After the race, Ward commented: "[Beethoven] handles Churchill Downs, and the Derby is always on my mind and [owner] Mr. [John] Oxley's mind." The Sky Mesa colt recently breezed 5 furlongs in 1:01.80 at Gulfstream Park in preparation for his 2009 debut.

A big name that will be missing from the lineup is Big Drama, who won the Delta Jackpot at Delta Downs in his final race as a 2-year-old. Trainer David Fawkes said on Jan. 24 that the colt’s training encountered "just a little bump in the road, nothing major." Big Drama, owned by Harold Queen, will have his road to the Kentucky Derby reevaluated, according to Fawkes: "Right now we have no definite plans and my owner said he is in rush with this horse." So horse bettors will just have to wait for Big Drama’s 3-year-old debut in a future race.

Sweeten your Super Bowl weekend! Bet on the Holy Bull Stakes at the Bodog Racebook!