2026 Holy Bull Stakes Scratches Down to Seven: Weather, Preparations Force Defections
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The complexion of Saturday’s Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes has shifted significantly following the news that two of the original nine entrants will not go postward at Gulfstream Park.
Buetane Neutralized
The West Coast threat from the Baffert trained Buetane has been neutralized, for now. Buetane, an easy winner in his maiden opener, and runner-up in the G1 Hopeful at Saratoga and the G2 San Vicente in his last start, will not be making the trip to South Florida. Trainer Bob Baffert confirmed that weather-related flight cancellations on Tuesday forced the stable to scrap the Gulfstream plans. While cross-entered in the $1 million Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn, his status for that race remains day-to-day.
Game for It Gets More Time
Chad Summers has indicated that his Aqueduct debut winner, Game for It, has a “99 percent” chance of being scratched from the Holy Bull. Instead, he’ll give his first out winner an extra week of preparation targeting the Sam F. Davis Stakes and a different surface at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7,
Seven Set To Go
With these defections, Nearly, the Todd Pletcher trainee, who has been a dominant force in local sprints, now faces a slightly less crowded path to the winner’s circle as he attempts to carry his speed around two turns for the first time. The scratch of Buetane removes some of the pace puzzle and could gift Nearly an easier lead, or allow Cannoneer to sit a perfect stalking trip without as much pressure from the outside.
Incredibolt, the Riley Mott-trained winner of the Street Sense, remains the only graded stakes winner in the lineup and will still have to deal with the challenge of breaking from the rail in what is now a seven-horse contest.
Updated Field for the 2026 Holy Bull (G3)
- Incredibolt (Riley Mott / Jaime Torres)
- Roger That Dana (Luis Ramirez / Renzo Rojas)
- Project Ace (Dale Romans / Corey Lanerie)
- Global Aviator (Rohan Crichton / Joe Bravo)
- Cannoneer (Brad Cox / Irad Ortiz, Jr.)
- Nearly (Todd Pletcher / John Velazquez)
- Bravaro (Saffie Joseph, Jr. / Tyler Gaffalione)
Get the Edge. Bet the Edge.
Keep an eye on track bias during the early races on Saturday. They could be the key to a winning day.
Click here to access racing data for the Holy Bull Stakes. See the free past performances for Saffie Joseph or Brad Cox.
