Gulfstream: Ferocious, Guns Loaded Top $265,000 Holy Bull (G3)

By David Joseph —-

Ferocious, Guns Loaded Top $265,000 Holy Bull (G3)

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Twice Grade 1-placed Ferocious, Grade 3 winner He’s Not Joking and last-out Mucho Macho Man winner Guns Loaded top a field of seven 3-year-olds entered Sunday for the $265,000 Holy Bull (G3) Saturday, Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park.

The 36th running of the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull is the next step on Gulfstream’s road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29. 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.

OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, High Step Racing and Marquee Bloodstock’s Ferocious has not raced since finishing a troubled fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Favored in each of his first three starts, the Flatter colt won his unveiling at Saratoga, where he followed up with a second to Eclipse Award finalist Chancer McPatrick in the Hopeful (G1). He was also runner-up to East Avenue in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1).

Di Scola Boys Stable’s He’s Not Joking captured the 1 1/16-mile Grey (G3) on Woodbine’s all-weather surface in his fourth start for trainer Josie Carroll. In his lone try on dirt, the Practical Joke colt broke a step slow and finished eighth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) Nov. 30.

Morplay Racing, Joey Platts and Lady Sheila Stable’s Guns Loaded has put together back-to-back wins since finishing second in his late August debut at Saratoga. He broke his maiden sprinting six furlongs Nov. 16 in Kentucky prior to making his 3-year-old debut with a front-running neck triumph in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 3 at Gulfstream.

WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and Siena Farm’s Tappan Street is a $1 million son of Into Mischief entered to make his stakes debut off an impressive 1 ¾-length debut victory sprinting seven furlongs Dec. 28 at Gulfstream for trainer Brad Cox. Two races later on the same card Burham Square, bred and owned by Janis Whitham and trained by Ian Wilkes, romped by nine lengths in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight.

Juddmonte homebred Burning Glory, neck winner of a one-mile maiden special weight Dec. 1 in Kentucky, and Albaugh Family Stables’ Kinetic Control, who graduated fourth time out going 1 1/16 miles Nov. 22 in his most recent effort, are also entered.

Also on the main track sprinting seven furlongs in the $165,000 Swale, with a group led by Donut God, undefeated in two starts for trainer Brian Lynch including the Dec. 7 Inaugural at Tampa Bay Downs. Also entered are 2024 Futurity (G3) runner-up Gate to Wire; debut winners Grayscale, Gunmetal and Maitre D; Macho Music, most recently fourth in the Mucho Macho Man; and Fire Pit.

The Forward Gal is followed on the Gulfstream stakes calendar by the $215,000 Fasig-Tipton Davona Dale (G2) going one mile March 1 and $265,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at 1 1/16 miles March 29.

Named for the Florida-bred daughter of 1965 Florida Derby winner Native Charger that was named champion 2-year-old filly of 1970, the Forward Gal drew a competitive led by The Queens M G, a dual stakes winner at Saratoga last summer including the Adirondack (G3); Eclatant, third in the Golden Rod (G2) Nov. 30; My Denysse, neck winner of the FSS My Dear Girl Nov. 30 at Gulfstream; and Tempted winner Stunner, beaten a neck as the favorite in the My Dear Girl.

Also entered are twice stakes-placed Beyond Belief; Volatiled, second in the Juvenile Filly Sprint against fellow Florida-breds Nov. 16 at Gulfstream; impressive Gulfstream maiden winners Frida and Rojo Rita; Unchained Elaine, third in the one-mile Cash Run on New Year’s Day at Gulfstream; Costa Amalfitana and Justinqueso.

On turf are the $165,000 Sweetest Chant for fillies and $165,000 Kitten’s Joy, both going 1 1/16 miles. The Sweetest chant attracted a group including Natalma (G1) runner-up Vixen; Origami, a last-out third in the Dec. 1 Cecil B. DeMille (G3) at Del Mar; Correto, third in last fall’s Miss Grillo (G2) at Aqueduct; Ramsey Pond, third in Gulfstream’s 7 ½-furlong Wait a While Nov. 28; twice stakes-placed Sail Theseven Seas; Keeneland maiden winner Fixin to Bee and Gulfstream maiden winner La Gioconda.

Hall of Famer Mark Casse-trained stablemates Mi Bago and Coco Cool both take two-race win streaks into the Kitten’s Joy, each with a win over grass and synthetic; Mi Bago’s victories have each come in stakes – the 7 ½-furlong Pulpit Nov. 29 and one-mile, 70-yard Dania Beach Jan. 1. Enterdadragon is also a two-time winner, similarly over each surface. Maui Strong, third in the Dania Beach; TAA runner-up Test Score; Tiz Dashing, beaten a neck when second in the 1 1/16-mile Awad Oct. 19 at Aqueduct; and last out winners Charlie’s to Blame and Walking in Memphis complete the field.

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The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.