Pletcher ‘Excited About Stretching Out’ Nearly in the Holy Bull

[Wandering Eyes]

Nearly (Not This Time), an impressive winner of two straight by a combined 14 1/4 lengths, will make his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park.

The Centennial Farms colorbearer earned a field-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure defeating three rivals in an optional claimer going seven furlongs at Gulfstream most recently Jan. 2.

Produced by a winning Mineshaft mare, Nearly worked a bullet four furlongs in :48.59 (1/25) at Palm Beach Downs Jan. 24.

He is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, which offers 20-10-6-4-2 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

“Everything to us indicates that (two turns) should be to his advantage,” Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He's always trained like a horse that wanted more distance and he's got the pedigree to do it, so we're excited about stretching him out.”

Cannoneer (Into Mischief) was a no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' in the nightcap on the Stars of Tomorrow II card at Churchill Downs last out Nov. 29. Owned in partnership by St. Elias Stable and breeder Stonestreet Stables, the $1.75- million Keeneland September graduate delivered a 7 1/4-length maiden tally at second asking going seven furlongs that day, good for a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Brad Cox trains.

Pin Oak Stud's rail-drawn Incredibolt (Bolt d'Oro) makes his first start since delivering a smart, last-to-first victory in the GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs Oct. 26.

“We gave him a planned vacation at Pin Oak Stud, and they kept him ticking over for us until the beginning of December, at which point he came down here,” trainer Riley Mott said. “He hasn't missed a beat.”

Buetane (Tiz the Law), runner-up in last summer's GI Spendthrift Farm Hopeful S. and the GII San Vicente S. Jan. 10, has been scratched in favor of next Friday's postponed GIII Southwest S. at Oaklawn Park.

Gulfstream's 12-race program will feature five stakes races for 3-year-olds, including the GIII Forward Gal S., a seven-furlong prep for the Kentucky Oaks (20-10-6-4-2).

'TDN Rising Star presented by Hagyard' On Time Girl (Not This Time), last seen powering home first in the Fern Creek S. at Churchill Downs Nov. 29, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite for her sophomore debut. Her Cox-trained stablemate and fellow 'Rising Star' Sneaky Good (Into Mischief) made it two-for-two in the Sandpiper S. at Tampa Dec. 6.

Last term's GIII Adirondack S. winner Mythical (St Patrick's Day) concluded her juvenile campaign with a pair of wins in the Florida Sire Susan's Girl S. Oct. 18 and FTBOA Florida Sire My Dear Girl S. Nov. 29, respectively. The latter was her first attempt around two turns.

Saturday's graded action also includes: the GII San Pasqual S. and GIII Megahertz S. at Santa Anita; and the GIII Tampa Bay S. and GIII Endeavour S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

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