The Road to the Kentucky Derby makes the first of three stops at Gulfstream Park Saturday with the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes.
The race will offer 20 qualifying points to the Winner as top 3-year-olds compete to accumulate points and earn a place in the gate for the first Saturday in May.
Inaugurated in 1990 as the Preview Stakes, the race was re-named in honor of 1994 Horse of the Year HOLY BULL in 1996.
It has been run at a variety of distances, settling in at its current 1 1/16 miles since 2013. The race was run as a Grade 3 for the first time in 1996.
Here’s a look back at three of the best horses to Win the Holy Bull in the 21st century.
BARBARO (2006) He became best-known for his exploits on dirt, but BARBARO started off his career a perfect 3-for-3 on the turf. Trainer Michael Matz decided to try him on the Derby trail and entered him in the Holy Bull for his first dirt race.
The colt enjoyed a good stalking trip off pacesetting DOCTOR DIEHARD before challenging him on the final turn. BARBARO wrested away control entering the stretch, then encountered fresh challenges from two others, undaunted by their presence, he splashed past the finish line on a wet track three-quarters of a length in front.
In his next start, BARBARO Won the Grade 1 Florida Derby by a half-length with a similar trip. In his next two starts he gave racing fans the highest of highs and the lowest of lows; he rolled to a dominant Win in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby before suffering a severe injury in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes.
Although he fought valiantly in recovery, he developed acute laminitis in July of 2006 and was euthanized in January 2007. BARBARO is memorialized with a statue at the main entrance of Churchill Downs.
___________________________________________
TIZ THE LAW (2020) After his Win in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes in October 2019 at Belmont Park this New York-bred popped up on many Kentucky Derby top 10 lists.
TIZ THE LAW made his 3-year-old debut in the Holy Bull and was the very chalky favorite in a field of seven. He lived up to the hype, rating off the pace and drawing away for a three-length Win.
Following his Holy Bull Win, TIZ THE LAW went on a tear during the spring and summer of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the racing calendar. He Won the Grade 1 Florida Derby, the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes and the Grade 1 Travers Stakes.
Heading into a rescheduled Kentucky Derby in September, he became the first Holy Bull victor to Win both the Belmont Stakes and Travers. TIZ THE LAW went off at odds of 7-10 in the Kentucky Derby, (the heaviest favorite since SPECTACULAR BID in 1980), he ran 2nd behind AUTHENTIC.
___________________________________________
WHITE ABARRIO (2022) He started his career with back-to-back runaway Victories, rallying to a 6 ¾-length romp in his career debut and then leading from start to finish in a four-length score in his second start.
He closed his juvenile campaign with a 3rd-place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in his first try against Stakes competition for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
The gray colt made his first start as a 3-year-old in the Holy Bull Stakes and announced his presence on the 2022 Kentucky Derby trail with authority. He opened a commanding lead in the stretch under new rider Tyler Gaffalione and powered to a 4 ½-length victory at 6-1 odds.
He followed with another clear Win in the $1 million Florida Derby and became one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby.
RICH STRIKE, of course, had other ideas and shocked the world at 80-1 odds that first Saturday in May. WHITE ABARRIO was never a factor in the Derby and finished 16th of 20.
WHITE ABARRIO did not Win again in 2022 – but he regained his elite form as a 4-year-old in 2023 after he was transferred to trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. He Won the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes by six lengths and followed with a one-length Win in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
In 2024 he returned to the barn of Saffie Joseph Jr. and kicked off his 6-year-old season in 2025 with a bang with a record-setting 6 1/4-length Victory in the $2,945,400 Grade 1 Pegasus Stakes last Saturday.
