Who Are the Derby Contenders in the 2026 Holy Bull? 🐎

πŸ”₯ Holy Bull Stakes 2026 Preview – Horse by Horse Analysis | Kentucky Derby Prep (20 Points on the Line!) The Road to the Kentucky Derby heats up THIS Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Join me as I evaluate all 7 starters in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes 2026, going 1 1/16 miles on dirt at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, January 31, with a massive 20 Kentucky Derby points awarded to the winner.

This is one of the most important early Derby preps of the season β€” loaded with improving 3-year-olds, big-name trainers, and rising stars trying to stamp their ticket to Churchill Downs.

Let’s go horse by horse in this Holy Bull Stakes preview:

🐎 Incredibolt (Trainer: Riley Mott)Can this Bolt strike again? Already a Grade 3 winner with Derby points in hand, Incredibolt is improving every start β€” but must stay closer early on Gulfstream’s speed-favoring track.

🐎 Roger That Dana (Trainer: Luis Ramirez)Roger that β€” experience matters. With all three starts at Gulfstream, this colt showed late life last out, but needs a pace upgrade to contend on top.

🐎 Project Ace (Trainer: Dale Romans)Project Ace tries to ace a tough assignment. A proven distance runner, but as a closer with light speed figures, he’ll need a big jump forward.

🐎 Global Aviator (Trainer: Rohan Crichton)Ready for takeoff? This flashy debut winner flew home wide at Gulfstream, but now faces two turns for the first time in a major class test.

🐎 Cannoneer (Trainer: Brad Cox)Like a cannonball, this $1.75M Into Mischief colt crushed his maiden with a 90 Beyer and figures to send hard early under Irad Ortiz, Jr β€” a serious win threat.

🐎 Nearly (Trainer: Todd Pletcher)Nearly perfect so far. Two dominant Gulfstream wins and a field-best 97 Beyer make this improving colt a major player stretching out for Johnny Velazquez.

🐎 Bravaro (Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.)How brave is Bravaro? The undefeated New York-bred ships south after winning the Sleepy Hollow and looks like a solid underneath contender.

🏁 Race Info:

πŸ“ Gulfstream Park

πŸ“… Saturday, January 31, 2026

πŸ‡ Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes

πŸ“ 1 1/16 miles (dirt)

πŸ† 20 Kentucky Derby points to the winner

Previous

2026 Southwest Stakes Preview: Who’s Derby Ready? 🐎

Next

Fast Pace, Big Stakes: 2026 Lecomte Stakes Preview 🐎 πŸ€