| Grade III race | |
|---|---|
| Holy Bull Stakes | |
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida |
| Inaugurated | 1972 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | www.gulfstreampark.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8 furlongs) |
| Track | Dirt, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Assigned |
| Purse | $400,000 |
The Holy Bull Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Run in mid April, it is open to three-year-olds over a distance of one mile and three sixteenths. The Grade III event is a prep for the Florida Derby and has a $400,000 purse.
Inaugurated in 1990 as the Preview Stakes, it was created as a replacement for the Flamingo Stakes that ceased to exist following the closure of Hialeah Park Race Track. In 1996, the Preview Stakes was renamed in honor of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame horse Holy Bull.
Since its inception, the race has been contested at various distances:
Speed record:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Distance (Miles) |
Time | Grade |
| 2011 | Dialed In | 3 | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1-mile | 1:35.19 | III |
| 2010 | Winslow Homer | 3 | Ramon Dominguez | Tony Dutrow | Fox Hill Farms | 1-mile | 1:35.97 | III |
| 2009 | Saratoga Sinner | 3 | Julien Leparoux | Eddie Kenneally | Lally Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:51.45 | III |
| 2008 | Hey Byrn | 3 | Chuck Lopez | Edward Plesa, Jr. | Beatrice Oxenberg | 1-3/16 | 1:58.14 | III |
| 2007 | Nobiz Like Shobiz | 3 | Cornelio Velasquez | Barclay Tagg | Elizabeth J. Valando | 1-mile | 1:35.47 | III |
| 2006 | Barbaro | 3 | Edgar Prado | Michael R. Matz | Roy & Gretchen Jackson | 1-1/8 | 1:49.31 | III |
| 2005 | Closing Argument | 3 | Cornelio Velasquez | Kiaran McLaughlin | Philip & Marcia Cohen | 1-1/8 | 1:50.14 | III |
| 2004 | Second Of June | 3 | Cornelio Velasquez | William J. Cesare | Barbara Cesare | 1-1/16 | 1:43.00 | |
| 2003 | Offlee Wild | 3 | Mark Guidry | Richard Dutrow, Jr. | Dorothy A. Matz | 1-1/16 | 1:43.00 | |
| 2002 | Booklet | 3 | Eibar Coa | John T. Ward, Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1-1/16 | 1:46.16 | |
| 2001 | Radical Riley | 3 | Eduardo Nunez | James Hatchett | Jacks or Better Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:46.06 | |
| 2000 | Hal's Hope | 3 | Roger Velez | Harold Rose | Rose Family Stable | 1-1/16 | 1:44.52 | |
| 1999 | Grits'n Hard Toast | 3 | Robbie Davis | T.V. Smith | Smith/R. A. Anderson | 1-1/16 | 1:45.32 | |
| 1998 | Cape Town | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1-1/16 | 1:44.15 | |
| 1997 | Arthur L. | 3 | John R. Velazquez | Luis Olivares | Not found | 1-1/16 | 1:42.93 | |
| 1996 | Cobra King | 3 | Chris McCarron | Mike Puype | Gary Biszantz | 1-1/16 | 1:43.42 | |
| 1995 | Suave Prospect | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Nick Zito | Condren & M. H. Sherman | 1-1/16 | 1:44.03 | |
| 1994 | Go For Gin | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Nick Zito | Condren & Cornacchia | 1-1/16 | 1:41.62 | |
| 1993 | Pride of Burkaan | 3 | Not found | Leo Azpurua | Johnson & Murchibon | 1-1/16 | 1:44.74 | |
| 1992 | Waki Warrior | 3 | Earlie Fires | William G. Huffman | Stanley Lowenbraun | 1-1/16 | 1:44.32 | |
| 1991 | Shoot To Kill | 3 | Not found | Linda L. Rice | Not found | 1-1/16 | 1:43.54 | |
| 1990 | Home At Last | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | Carl Nafzger | Reineman Stable | 1-1/8 | 1:53.20 | |
| 1980 | 1989 - No Races | - | No Races | No Races | No Races | no races | 0:00.00 | |
| 1979 | Northern Prospect | 3 | Jerry D. Bailey | 6-furlongs | 1:10.60 | |||
| 1978 | No Race | - | No Race | No Race | No Race | no race | 0:00.00 | |
| 1977 | Smashing Native | 3 | D. Brumfield | 6-furlongs | 1:12.60 | |||
| 1975 | 1976 - No Races | - | No Races | No Races | No Races | no races | 0:00.00 | |
| 1974 | Real Supreme | 3 | M. Miceli | 6-furlongs | 1:09.20 |
MI Developments Inc. announced August 27, 2010 a special bonus program involving tracks owned by the company that could result in a $5.5 million bonus for the winner of the 2011 Preakness Stakes. MID also announced that purses of the Florida Derby and Santa Anita Derby would both be increased to $1 million. MID said the "historic and unique bonus program" called "Preakness 5.5" is designed to "allow both east and west coast based 3-year-olds to qualify by having the preliminary races at Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields."
In addition to the purses earned in the qualifying races and the Preakness on May 21, 2011, the owner of a horse winning the bonus would receive $5 million and the trainer would get $500,000. "The purpose of this grand prize is to provide a spectacular event for the fans and to create a potential life changing experience for the stakeholders of the racing industry," Frank Stronach, chairman of MID, said in a statement.
To qualify for the Preakness 5.5 at Gulfstream Park, a horse must win either the Holy Bull Stakes or the Fountain of Youth Stakes and then go on to win the Florida Derby on April 3, 2011. To qualify for the Preakness 5.5 at Santa Anita Park, a horse must win either the Robert B. Lewis Stakes or San Felipe Stakes and then go on to win the Santa Anita Derby. The winner of the El Camino Real Derby, which is scheduled to be run on Feb. 12, 2011 at Golden Gate Fields, will also qualify for the Preakness 5.5 if it goes on to win the Santa Anita Derby.
MID also announced that XpressBet will sponsor the XpressBet.55, a consolation prize of $550,000 ($500,000 to the owner and $50,000 to the trainer) to be awarded to the winner of the 2011 Preakness if that horse was not eligible for the Preakness $5.5 million bonus but was a runner in one of the initial qualifying races and finished first, second, or third at the Santa Anita Derby or Florida Derby.
Paths to $5,500,000 Preakness Bonus:
1) win Holy Bull Stakes + win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
2) win Fountain of Youth Stakes + win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
3) win Robert B. Lewis Stakes + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
4) win San Felipe Stakes + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
5) win El Camino Real Derby + win the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
Paths to $550,000 XpressBet Bonus:
1) run in Holy Bull Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
2) run in Fountain of Youth Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
3) run in Robert B. Lewis Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
4) run in San Felipe Stakes + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
5) run in El Camino Real Derby + win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby + win The Preakness Stakes