—Feb 3— Audible leaped from the gate and never looked back, cruising to a 4½–length win in the 28th running of the $350,000 Grade II Holy Bull Stakes at Gulstream Park on Saturday. Bet down to 1/5, the win puts Audible squarely on track for the upcoming Florida Derby and later, if things go well, the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. As easy as it his win in the Holy Bull appeared, it wasn’t always part of the plan.
“We actually brought him down (to Florida) a little bit later because we were entered in the New York-bred stake, and then all the bad weather hit in New York and it got delayed and carried over,” train, Todd Pletcher explained. “Maybe it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The original plan was to run him in the New York-bred stake and then bring him down, but when all the bad weather hit we came up with a different strategy and it seemed to work out well today.
“He shipped in great and trained really well when he got here, so it kind of made it an easy decision that this was an easy race to target.”
Audible’s rider, Javier Castellano, was just as impressed. “Today he was sharp and had tactical speed in the race and we could move and he’d give me everything I asked of him. I love these kinds of horses … where you can move quick and can put them in a good position.
“It’s only a mile and sixteenth today, but the way he galloped out was amazing. I look forward to the next race.”
Free Drop Billy finished second under Luis Saez, prevailing in a three-way photo over Enticed and Tiz Mischief.
After those three came Hofburg, who finished well ahead of Mississippi.
Retro Horse Racing Game 