In Florida, a select group of six colts take their first major step on the Triple Crown Trail in Sunday’s Holy Bull Stakes. The one mile contest is the highly anticipated three year old debut of Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champ HANSEN. The speedy colt will try to wire the field, but the Holy Bull contains plenty of speed to test the pretty gray colt’s mettle.
Two contenders who will attempt to run with
Hansen early are My Adonis and Silver Max. MY ADONIS (Pleasantly Perfect - Silent Justice, by Elusive Quality) a son of a Breeders’ Cup Classic hero, is the first foal out of his dam. She is a half-sister to the graded stakes winning sprinter Lakota Brave. My Adonis doesn’t need the lead to win, but the Kelly Breen trainee has fired three consecutive bullets at Palm Meadows.
SILVER MAX (Badge of Silver - Kissin Rene, by Kissin Kris) a son of the leading third crop sire, is a half-brother to a listed stakes winner. His dam is a half-sister to the dams of Grade 1 winning sprinter Yes Its True and multiple stakes winning Kiss A Native. Silver Max jumps back to the dirt after three consecutive turf races. He’s placed second twice over dirt. The Dale Romans trainee has set the pace in his last four starts.
The local hope, FORT LOUDON (Awesome of Course - Lottsa Talc, by Talc) ruled South Florida with a sweep of the Stallion Stakes, but finished up nine lengths behind Hansen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after racing wide. Fort Loudon is a half-brother to the dam of the multiple graded stakes winning miler Jackson Bend. Trained by top South Florida conditioner Stanley Gold, Fort Loudon has a versatile running style and can sit off the pace.
Algorithms and Consortium, two lightly raced, but
highly regarded sons of the sensational Bernardini should make their presence known in the Holy Bull. ALGORITHMS (Bernardini - Ava Knowsthecode, by Cryptoclearance) is a half-brother to the graded stakes winners Keyed Entry and Justin Philip as well as listed winners Successful Mission and Alex’s Allure. Algorithms is undefeated in two starts, including a one length victory over Consortium over the Gulfstream dirt in their last starts. Algorithms worked a bullet five furlongs for the powerful Pletcher stable.
Godolphin color bearer CONSORTIUM (Bernardini - Marietta, by Machiavellian) is the first foal out of Arlington Oaks (G-3) and Iowa Oaks (G-3) heroine Marietta. His second dam Minister Wife (by Deputy Minister) won the Demoiselle (G-2) and his third dam Dowery (by Full Pocket) was also a stakes winner. Consortium was game in defeat to Algorithms and ads first time Lasix for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.
SELECTIONS:
Track bias: Pace setters/pressers have been successful 69% in 63 one mile events during this meet. 14% of the front runners wire the field.
HANSEN is the overwhelming favorite. He could be another The Factor, run with him early at your peril. HANSEN doesn’t need to win the Holy Bull, and the race is likely a tune-up for the Fountain of Youth or Florida Derby. Still, he’s done nothing wrong and is the class of the field. ALGORITHMS and CONSORTIUM should benefit from the added distance and could take advantage of a softened up Hansen. FORT LOUDON is a nice horse, and can sit anywhere. If MY ADONIS and SILVER MAX are pushed early, they may not have anything left at the end.
#4 HANSEN
#2 CONSORTIUM
#6 ALGORITHMS
#5 FORT LOUDON - longshot
In the last ten years, the only horse to win the LeComte Stakes (G-3) at the Fairgrounds and persevere on the Triple Crown trail and beyond is Hard Spun. The son of Danzig gave a good account of himself as a member of a strong crop of three year olds that included the Champions Street Sense, Curlin and Rags To Riches. 
Dance (IRE)) is outrunning his pedigree. He’s on a six race win streak. Ted’s Folly is the first stakes winner produced by his sire. Wild Tale, a son of Tale of the Cat, is a Grade 3 placed sprinter. Ted’s Folly’s damsire is represented by eight stakes winners over dirt, but none have won a graded stakes over the surface. Ted’s Folly descends from a modest but hardy distaff line. He is the first stakes winner produced by his dam, Tricksword. She is a half-sister to a stakes placed runner. 
Like Ted’s Folly, MR. BOWLING (Istan - Goldilock's Bear, by Irish Tower) is the first stakes winner produced by his first crop sire. Mr. Bowling has a miler pedigree. His damsire was a multiple stakes winner from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles and he is the damsire of Canadian Champion Filly Knight’s Templar and Dubai Golden Shaheen (G-1) hero Proud Tower Too. Mr. Bowling is the first stakes winner produced by his dam Goldilock's Bear. She is a half-sister to Grade 1 heroine Tarlow, as well as the dams of multiple graded stakes winners Yankee Fortune and Go Go Shoot. The second dam Madam Bear is also a stakes winner. Mr. Bowling enters off of a layoff, but fired a bullet work in his second to last breeze. 
Prized) has won three of his last four starts, including the Bashford Manor (G-3) and the Sugarbowl Stakes as a prep for the LeComte. Exfactor’s sire is known more for producing stakes winning fillies than colts (Ermine, Swap Fliparoo). Exfactor’s dam Bright Magic, won four of twelve starts, including two listed sprints. None of Exfactor’s four half siblings have won anything of note, but their dam is a full sister to a stakes placed runner and a half-sister to Grade 3 stakes turf heroine Take The Ribbon. 
SEVEN LIVELY SINS (Stormy Atlantic - Carson's Star, by Carson City) weakened slightly in the Iroquois (G-3), finishing second by only ¾ of a length. He showed little after changing his front running tactics in the Delta Jackpot. Seven Lively Sins is bred along the same lines as Norfolk Stakes (G1) hero Stormello and four other listed runners, including 2006 Delta Princess heroine Miss Atlantic City. Seven Lively Sins’ dam is a half-sister to two stakes winners, including G3 winner Jamar Rain, the dam of graded stakes placed Imperial Council. 
Arlington-Washington Futurity hero SHARED PROPERTY (Scat Daddy - Yoursmineours, by Belong to Me)was unplaced in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He is by the leading first crop sire. Scat Daddy’s offspring are winning over all surfaces, but the majority are winners over grass and Polytrack. Shared Property has quality in his distaff family. His dam won the Honeybee Stakes and his third dam produced Champion filly Epitome. 
The undefeated hero of the inaugural running of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint will attempt to stretch his speed in today’s Sham Stakes. 
Unbridled's Song) should find the added furlong of the Sham Stakes to his liking. His 3/4 brother Etched is a multiple graded stakes winner, and set a new stakes record in the 1 1/8 mile Meadowlands Cup (G-2). Out of Bounds’ dam is BC Distaff heroine Unbridled Elaine. She’s a half-sister to Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Glitterwoman, who is the dam of Suburban Stakes hero Political Force. 
HANDSOME MIKE
won his maiden by over five lengths at Churchill and has been training steadily at Santa Anita. He’s a half-brother to the multiple stakes winning turf miler Cherokee Triangle and stakes placed Sam’s Bliss. Hierro’s dam placed in the Arlington Washington Lassie. 
Marquetry) has an obscure pedigree. His unraced dam is a half-sister to a stakes placed runner, but this distaff family is made up of hardy bread-and-butter types. Senor Rain held on for third in the Real Quiet Stakes after dueling on the front end. The recently gelded chestnut owns a win over the Santa Anita dirt and takes the blinkers off after a disastrous experiment over the turf in the Generous Stakes. 
The Count Fleet Gotham and Wood Memorial are Triple Crown prep races held in New York. Saturday, the Count Fleet Stakes kicks off the beginning of the New York Preps. Unfortunately, the race rarely produces a Triple Crown contender. Since the inaugural running of the Count Fleet in 1975, only three horses have succeeded in a Triple Crown Race. Summing placed in the 1981 Count Fleet and won the Belmont Stakes. Prairie Bayou the 1992 Count Fleet victor, placed in the Kentucky Derby behind Sea Hero, and then won the Preakness. The last colt to star in the Triple Crown was 2004 Count Fleet hero Smarty Jones, undefeated winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Ironically, the following year, Scrappy T. won the Count Fleet and forced Afleet Alex to his knees in the Preakness. Despite the mishap, Afleet Alex still won the race while Scrappy T. finished second. 
Wekiva Springs) has been a brilliant front running sprinter. He’s won his last three races by a combined 17 ¼ lengths, two of which were listed stakes. Il Villano‘s pedigree indicates that he should handle the additional distance. His sire is best known for producing the top filly Blind Luck, who won against top company up to 1 ¼ miles. Il Villano’s damsire won graded stakes from six furlongs to 1 ¼ miles, including the Gulfstream Park and Suburban Handicaps. Il Villano‘s distaff family is modest. He’s the only colt and stakes winner produced by his dam. She was winless in six tries, but is a half-sister to two stakes placed runners. The pretty gray colt threw a bullet in his last work, but the Crowell barn is 0 for 4 with the sprint to route angle. 
STEPHANOATSEE
disappointed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after acting up in the gate. He’s a half-brother to French stakes winner Mystic Melody and to Lavender Sky, who placed in four stakes races over the lawn in California. Their dam is an English stakes router and she’s a half to two French stakes winners. This family produced Champion Fantastic Light, Multiple G1 winner Turbulent Decent, KY Oaks heroine Seaside Attraction, the top sire Cape Town and many other top runners. Alpha recorded a last out bullet for the Count Fleet Stakes. 
SPEIGHTSCITY
Mistress, by Clever Trick) experiments with dirt after a disappointing effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. He has strong dirt attributes through his distaff line, but none of his first crop sire’s offspring have been victorious over dirt. Shkspeare Shaliyah has two stakes placed half-sisters, both of whom were successful over dirt and turf. Their dam is a half to stakes placed Barney’s Mistress, the dam of multiple turf stakes winner Deputiformer. The Shivmangal barn is successful with 22% horses going from turf to dirt.