Holy Bull Stakes Racing Roundup

©2019 Calvin L. Carter. All rights reserved.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby takes us coast to coast Saturday with prep races in New York, California and Florida.

At Gulfstream Park in Hallendale, Florida, MAXIMUS MISCHIEF will go to the starting gate as the even-money, morning-line favorite in the 29^th running of the $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Holy Bull Stakes (G2). Post time is 5:13 ET.

Undefeated in three starts, Maximus Mischief comes into this race for trainer Robert Reid off a win in the Remsen Stakes (G2) last out. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

MAXIMUS MISCHIEF away without apparent mishap, attained a prominent position shortly thereafter, was in path two disputing the pace, and would continue at it until the conclusion of the backstretch, slide over into the right border of the inside route after the pace disputed morphed into a one on one contest at the half mile pole, was put to a drive being challenged in earnest by TAX as the frontrunners stepped into the stretch, responded to put away the challenger and edged away, continued onward with willingness to preserve the decision.

Maximus Mischief looked good stepping up to win his first stakes race by 2¼ lengths.

Into Mischief, the sire of Maximus Mischief, was a precocious colt and multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 3-3-0 record in six starts with $597,080 in career earnings.

As a two-year-old, Into Mischief easily won his maiden debut by 2½ lengths at Santa Anita Park on October 21, 2007. He went on to finish second in the Hollywood Prevue Stakes (G3) and followed that with a win in the 8½-furlong CashCall Futurity (G1). His finish time of 1:40.82 was just a few ticks off of the record time of 1:40.74 set by Afternoon Deelites and the second fastest time of 1:40.78 set by Valiant Nature.

In his debut as a three-year-old in February 2008, Into Mischief finished second to Georgie Boy in the San Vicente Stakes (G2). He came out of that race with an injury to his right-hind foot and he was taken off the Triple Crown Trail.

After an extended break, Into Mischief returned to racing in October winning the Damascus Stakes by two lengths. In December, Into Mischief finished his racing season with a second-place finish in the Malibu Stakes (G1).

Into Mischief’s best runners on the Kentucky Derby Trail have been Audible, Goldencents, Practical Joke, Vyjack and Vicar’s in Trouble. Audible won the Holy Bull Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) en route to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Goldencents won the Santa Anita Derby and finished 17^th in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Practical Joke finished second in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and fifth in the Derby. Vyjack finished third in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) and 18^th in the Derby. Vicar’s in Trouble won the Louisiana Derby and finished 19^th in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Harlan’s Holiday, the grandsire of Audible, won the Florida Derby (G1), Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and finished seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Maximus Mischief has a low H Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him, potentially, competitive in this race.

A long shot I like is HARVEY WALLLBANGER (15-1). He’s never finished worse than second in four starts and comes into this race off a maiden win last November at Churchill Downs. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

HARVEY WALLLBANGER was unhurried early on, fanned into the five path in the far turn, was under a drive down the lane and inched away in the final stages.

Harvey Wallbanger tracked the leaders to the far turn, took the lead at the top of the stretch and prevailed to win by a half length.

Congrats, a full brother to Flatter and the sire of Harvey Wallbanger, did his best running at 8½ furlongs and farther. His most notable stakes wins were the 7½ furlong Ack Ack Handicap, the Alysheba Stakes and San Pasqual Handicap (G2), both at the 8½ furlongs, and he won 9 furlong San Antonio Handicap (G2). In addition, Congrats finished second in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and third in the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1), both at 10 furlongs.

As a stallion, Congrat’s best runners include Turbulent Descent, Jupiter Gold (AUS), Haveyougoneaway, Polar River, Pat On the Back, I’m Steppin’ It Up, Toasting, Bravo Watchman (AUS) and Top Decile to name a few.

Harvey Wallbanger has an A+ Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® and he was a yearling (Hip 176) we profiled at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Sale.

A recent bullet workout could have Harvey Wallbanger ready for his debut as a three year old. I look for him to run a good race and, perhaps, upset at nice price.

Undefeated in two starts, FEDERAL CASE (6-1) comes into this race for new trainer Todd Pletcher off an Allowance Optional Claming Race. Here’s the video and chart call:

FEDERAL CASE slightly hopped at start then quickly moved up and applied pace pressure to FROSTED GRACE, continued to force the issue through backstretch racing in two path, readily moved up to race on equal terms with rival midway through turn, could not get by firm holding FROSTED GRACE, kept after rival into stretch, set down under left handed drive and wore down game foe in final strides.

I like the way Federal Case ran with Frosted Grace from the start and dug in in the final strides to prevail by a neck. The final time of 136.42 is what I like to see young colts run on the Kentucky Derby Trail.  

Gemologist, the sire of Federal Case, was a multiple graded stakes winner who compiled a 5-0-0 record in seven starts with $794,855 in career earnings.

Undefeated in his first five starts, Gemologist won the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) as a two year old and the Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) at the age of three en route to a 16^th place finish in the 2012 Kentucky Derby (G1).

A leading first-crop sire in 2016, Gemologist’s best stakes runners to date include Golden Diamond, Mind Reader, Rose to Fame, Xerxes Avenue, Yellow Agate and Theory.

Federal Case has an E Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index potentially makes him competitive in this race.

Another long shot I like is COME ON GERRY (20-1) who comes into this race for trainer Dale Romans off a maiden win last out. Here’s the video and chart call of that race:

COME ON GERRY cleared to the lead moving inward from the four path around the first turn, showed the way up the backstretch, turned back a challenge from IDENTIFIER around the far turn and into the stretch, and was kept to task.

Come On Gerry led from the start, setting easy fractions, and pulled away in the stretch to win by 2¼ lengths full of run.

Elusive Quality, the sire of Come On Gerry, was a multiple graded stakes winner that compiled a 9-3-2 record in 20 starts with $413,284 in career earnings.

Elusive Quality did not race until his season as a three year old when he was 4-3-0 in eight starts with a second-place finish in the King’s Bishop Stakes (G2).

As a four year old, Elusive Quality was 1-0-2 in five starts with a third-place in the Tom Fool Handicap.

At the age of five, Elusive Quality was 4-0-0 in seven starts with wins in the Jaipur Handicap (G3) and Poker Handicap (G3).

Elusive Quality was euthanized in 2018. As a stallion he sired numerous graded stakes winners including Sepoy (AUS), Raven’s Pass, Quality Road, California Heart, Mr. Big and Maryfield as well as Smarty Jones, winner of the 2004 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1).

Come On Gerry has a D Classic Champion Thoroughbred Profile® but his Behavior Index makes him potentially competitive.

Honorable mention goes to Mihos (5-2) who comes into this race off a win in the Mucho Man Stakes.

*****

A total of 35 prep races comprise the USA Road to the Kentucky Derby. In addition, there are seven races on the European road and four races on the Japan road to Derby glory.

2019 KENTUCKY DERBY LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Game Winner, 30, Bob Baffert, $1,460,000

2. Knicks Go, 18, Ben Colebrook, $656,085

3. Signalman, 18, Ken McPeek, $392,840

4. Long Range Toddy, 14, Steve Asmussen, $330,000

5. Gunmetal Gray, 14, Jerry Hollendorfer, $180,000

6. Mind Control, 10, George Sacco, $295,000

7. Complexity, 10, Chad Brown, $275,000

8. Improbable, 10, Bob Baffert, $239,520

9. War of Will, 10, Mark Casse, $200,840

10. Maximus Mischief, 10, “Butch” Reid, Jr., $137,500

11. Gray Attempt, 10, Jinks Fires, $135,000

12. Mucho Gusto, 4, Bob Baffert, $120,000

13. Our Braintrust, 4, Cathal Lynch, $117,000

14. Code of Honor, 4, Shug McGaughey, $100,000

15. Network Effect, 4, Chad Brown, $90,000

16. Bankit, 4, Steve Asmussen, $80,000

17. Tight Ten, 4, Steve Asmussen, $67,900

18. Sueno, 4, Keith Desormeaux, $65,000

19. Hog Creek Hustle, 4, Vickie Foley, $49,000

20. Plus Que Parfait, 4, Brendan Walsh, $40,000

EUROPEAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Non-Restricted Stakes Earnings

1. Royal Marine (IRE), 10, Saeed bin Suroor, $264,968

2. Magna Grecia (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $185,000

3. Mohawk (IRE), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $128,702

4. Japan (GB), 10, Aidan O’Brien, $75,316

5. Phoenix of Spain (IRE), 4, Charlie Hill, $157,944

6. Broome (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $140,871

7. Sydney Opera House (GB), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $40,956

8. Mount Everest (IRE), 4, Aidan O’Brien, $24,254

9. Anodor (FR), 2, Freddie Head, $99,215

10. Western Australian (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $43,084

11. Cape of Good Hope (IRE), 2, Aidan O’Brien, $41,515

12. Power of Now (IRE), 2, Michael O’Callaghan, $11,489

13. Boitron (FR), 1, Richard Hannon, $44,917

14. Victory Command, (IRE), 1, Mark Johnston, $35,108

15. Circus Maximus (IRE), 1, Aidan O’Brien, $24,368

16. Sovereign (IRE), 1, Aiden O’Brien, $5,106

JAPAN ROAD LEADERBOARD

Ranking, total points, Trainer, Earnings

1. Nova Lenda (JPN), 20, Takashi Saito, $446,285

2. f-Make Happy, 12, Koichi Shinkai, $184,181

3. Derma Louvre (JPN), 8, Hirofumi Toda, $447,672

4. Gal Vihara, 4, Kiyoshi Hagiwara, $216,271

2. Kingen (JPN), 4, Kunihide Matsuda, $97,867

3. Johaan (JPN), 2, Yasuyuki Takahashi, $72,900

4. Romantico (JPN), 1, Kazuo Fujisawa, $91,245