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Lopez Suspended for Fountain of Youth Ride

Jockey Paco Lopez has been suspended 14 race days after Gulfstream Park stewards found him guilty of careless riding in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S., the track announced Wednesday. The jockey will be on probation through the remainder of the Championship Meet.

Lopez was aboard eventual runner-up In Due Time (Not This Time) when the field of 3-year-olds bunched up on the far turn of the Fountain of Youth. In Due Time shifted out, which looked to cause High Oak (Gormley), under Junior Alvarado, to clip heels and fall. Galt (Medaglia d'Oro) and jockey Joel Rosario fell as they attempted to avoid the fallen High Oak.

The stewards reviewed the incident after the race, but made no changes to the order of finish.

In announcing Lopez's suspension Wednesday, Gulfstream Park also announced that additional cameras would be added and installed in the near future to provide the stewards better views of each race on dirt, turf and Tapeta.

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Equibase Analysis: Galt, Simplification Most Likely Upsetters In Holy Bull Field

This Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes is the first of three significant stakes races for newly turned 3-year-olds in South Florida. Nine have signed on for this race and the best of them will likely run four weeks from now in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, hoping to go on to the Florida Derby in April and then onto the Kentucky Derby.

Leading the field in accomplishments is Mo Donegal, last seen two months ago when victorious in the G2 Remsen Stakes. Simplification is another stakes winner, having captured the Mucho Macho Man Stakes easily by four lengths on New Year's Day. Tiz the Bomb finished fast from 12th to get second when last seen in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and won his only previous dirt route by a whopping 14 lengths. Cajun's Magic returns from more than four months on the bench following a win in the FTBOA Florida Sire Dr. Fager Stakes then runner-up finishes in two other stakes races restricted to horses bred in Florida. Giant Game finished third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile on the same day Tiz the Bomb ran in the Juvenile Turf and appears to fit with these, as does G2 Kentucky Jockey Club third place finisher White Abarrio. Then there's a pair of recent impressive maiden winners in Spin Wheel and Galt, the former having rallied from last of 12 to win by a nose and the latter having drawn off easily by four lengths when last seen. Eloquist rounds out the field. He finished a well-beaten fifth in the Remsen and then last of six in an allowance race last month at Gulfstream Park.

Main Win Contenders:

Although Galt just earned his first win in his most recent start, the third of his career, he will be my top pick, and a strong one at that, in this year's Holy Bull Stakes. There are many reasons to think this son of Medaglia d'Oro can win, the first of which is that he is trained by Bill Mott, who has an uncanny ability to know when his recently turned 3-year-olds are the right caliber to compete in Road to the Derby stakes races. When taking blinkers off and running in a dirt route for the first time on Dec. 26, Galt ran tremendously better than he had in his two prior starts. Drawing the same rail position he gets for the Holy Bull, Galt saved ground then came around a pair of runners to rally into a very slow pace in the stretch before drawing off decisively.

Admittedly, the 84 Equibase® Speed Figure isn't nearly as fast as the 93 figure likely favorite Mo Donegal earned last December winning the Remsen Stakes, but it was a big improvement off his previous two races. As he's making his second start following 2 1/2 months off, Galt is going to move up considerably off the effort. Back to Mott's record 3-year-olds early in the year coming off maiden wins and running in stakes races, the Hall-of-Fame trainer saddled Tacitus to win the 2019 Tampa Bay Derby off a maiden win, saddled Modernist to win the 2020 Risen Star Stakes off a maiden win, saddled Candy Man Rocket to win the 2021 Sam F. Davis Stakes off a maiden win, and saddled Hofburg to a runner-up finish in the 2018 Florida Derby.

Another reason I expect Galt to run very well in a graded stakes race is he is a full brother to two-time Champion Songbird, winner of $4.6 million and nine consecutive graded stakes around two turns in her three year old campaign. As the reason for the big turnaround in form on Dec. 26 is easily identifiable (blinkers off) and as he won without Lasix so racing without the medication is not an issue here, I expect Galt to post the mild upset and throw his name in the ring as a strong contender on the Road to the Derby, staring in the Holy Bull Stakes.

However, in order to win, Galt is going to have to run down Simplification, who enters the race off a wire-to-wire win in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes on New Year's Day with a field high 98 figure. Two races before that, Simplification won a six furlong sprint by a whopping 16 and three-quarter lengths with a 99 figure. Javier Castellano rode the colt to his last win and will be in the saddle again in the Holy Bull. I have no concern about the fact that Simplification is trying two-turns for the first time as (per Race Lens) relatively new sire Not This Time has had six of 18 of his sons or daughters win two-turn races to date, including recent Lecomte Stakes runner-up Epicenter, who had won the Gun Runner Stakes prior to that. As such, Simplification has a big chance to get out on an easy lead and get very brave just as he did last month in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, and no matter how successful Galt might be in closing into a slow pace as he was in his victory at the end of December, it may be too tall of an order in this situation.

Although most of the others have credentials to be competitive, with the exception of Eloquist, who is overmatched, they are all giving away some physical edge to Galt and Simplification. For example, Mo Donegal has been away from the races since Dec. 4, and a Race Lens query reveals trainer Todd Pletcher possesses a four for 30 record with 3-year-olds in dirt route stakes over the last five years coming back from such a layoff. The same can be said for Tiz the Bomb, who needed a sprint prep race last spring before winning a route.

The rest of the field, all who have the ability to compete effectively in this race, with their best Equibase Speed Figures, is Cajun's Magic (94), Giant Game (90), Eloquist (74), Mo Donegal (93), Spin Wheel (86), Tiz the Bomb (109 on turf) and White Abarrio (94).

Win Contenders, with an equal probability to win at about 33 percent (2 to 1)
Galt
Simplification

Holy Bull Stakes – Grade 3
Race 11 at Gulfstream Park
Saturday, February 5 – Post Time 5:10 PM E.T.
One and One Sixteenth Miles
Three Year Olds
Purse: $250,000

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Saturday’s Insights: OBS April Topper Must Overcome High Draw

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

10th-DMR, $70K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, post time: 9:07 p.m. ET
CORNICHE (Quality Road) topped this year's OBS April Sale on a bid of $1.5 million from Peter Fluor and K.C. Weiner's Speedway Stable and has drawn gate 10 as the 9-5 favorite Saturday at Del Mar. The son of six-time GSW and GI Matriarch S. runner-up Wasted Tears (Najran) was led out unsold on a bid of $385,000 at KEESEP last year, but turned in a smooth sales breeze in :10 flat to become one of two horses to eclipse the seven-figure barrier. Mike Smith has the riding assignment for Bob Baffert. TJCIS PPs

Songbird's Full-Brother Down to Debut…
7th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 7f, post time: 3:53 p.m. ET
GALT (Medaglia d'Oro), a full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award and nine-time Grade I winner Songbird, carries the silks of Larry Best's OXO Equine as he makes his first visit to the races Saturday afternoon. A $400,000 Keeneland November purchase, the February foal is out of GSW Ivanavinalot (West Acre), a half-sister to MSW Shananie's Beat (Shananie) and to Beaties for Real (Unreal Zeal), whose five winners from six to race include the GSW full-siblings Friel's For Real (Sword Dance {Ire}) and Ryan's For Real and MSW Onepointhreekarats (Medaglia d'Oro), a $1.3-million KEESEP yearling back in 2009. Misbehaved (Into Mischief), a full-brother to MSW & MGSP Into Mystic, was bought back for $600,000 at KEESEP last fall and for $750,000 at Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream before fetching $875,000 from Eclipse and Bob LaPenta's Whitehorse Stable at OBS April after breezing a furlong in :10 flat. TJCIS PPs

My Miss Sophia Colt Kicks Off At the Spa…
6th-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:22 p.m. ET
ANNAPOLIS (War Front) gets his career underway for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner/breeder Bass Racing LLC, on whose behalf bloodstock agent Steve Young went to $4 million for his GSW & MGISP dam My Miss Sophia (Unbridled's Song) with the colt in utero at KEENOV in 2018. That price was second only to the $4.2-million Lady Eli (Divine Park). The 2014 GII Gazelle S. winner and GI Kentucky Oaks runner-up, a half-sister to GI Florida Derby hero Materiality (Afleet Alex), is already the dam of Annapolis's 3-year-old full-sister Nevisian Sunrise, third in the Wild Applause S. in June. This is also the family of MGSW/GISP Eye of the Tiger (American Chance) and GISWs Afleet Express (Afleet Alex) and Embellish the Lace (Super Saver). Calloway Peak (Arrogate) is a Juddmonte homebred son of the talented turf distaffer Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), a stakes winner in France and GSW/MGISP in this country for the colt's trainer Bill Mott. A maternal grandson of Oaks winner Flute (Seattle Slew), Calloway Peak counts GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft) and GSW Current (Curlin) as members of his female family. TJCIS PPs

Baffert Colt Looks to Make Most of Belated Bow…
1st-DMR, $70K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Florida-bred SUMO (Not This Time) was a $200,000 purchase by Randy Bradshaw out of the 2019 Fasig-Tipton July Sale, then was knocked down to prominent owner Michael Lund Petersen for $700,000 late in the sale at OBSAPR in 2020 after working an eighth of a mile in :10 flat. The bay is out of a daughter of GSW In Conference (Dayjur), the dam of GSP Settle Up (Kris S.) and granddam of MSW & MGSP Foxy Danseur (Mr. Greeley). Sumo, owned in partnership with Albaugh Family Stable, looks to have trained forwardly for this debut, including a half-mile over this strip in :47 1/5 (4/21) Aug. 31. TJCIS PPs

Well-Related Godolphin Runner Tries the Synth…
9th-WO, C$126k, Msw, 2yo, 1m 70yds (AWT), post time: 5:17p.m. ET
GINA (Maclean's Music), a debut third sprinting over the Colonial main track July 20, stretches out and tries the local all-weather for the first time here. The Godolphin homebred is a daughter of five-time Grade I winner Music Note (A.P. Indy), making her a half-sister to 'TDN Rising Star' and reigning G1 Dubai World Cup hero Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and is more closely related to GIII Penn Mile winner Gershwin (Distorted Humor). There is some turf in the family as well, as Music Note's half-sister Musical Chimes (In Excess {Ire}) won the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches in 2003 and the GI John C. Mabee H. in this country. TJCIS PPs

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Full Brother To Songbird Will Debut Saturday At Saratoga

OXO Equine's Galt, a full-brother to two-time champion Songbird, will make his career debut in a seven-furlong maiden special weight on Saturday [Race 7, 3:53 p.m.] at Saratoga.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Medaglia d'Oro, out of the graded stakes-winning West Acre mare Ivanavinalot, was purchased for $400,000 as a weanling from the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, where he was consigned by Eaton Sales.

Galt has breezed consistently over the Oklahoma training track since late June and most recently went a half-mile in 48.15 seconds on Aug. 29.

Mott said Galt has developed well in his time at Saratoga.

“He's made a lot of progress,” Mott said. “He was very backwards when he came in, and he's progressed probably as rapidly as you could possibly expect. He still is a big, gangly colt, but we have enough work into him and he's improved enough that we think we can get a start in him. He's a big, handsome leggy colt that's come around well enough that makes us think we can get him started.”

Jockey Joel Rosario has the mount from post 8.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle Misbehaved for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Robert V. LaPenta.

The bay son of leading sire Into Mischief was bought for $875,000 from the OBS April Sale from DeMeric Sales. He is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Loveofalifetime, making him a full brother to Into Mystic – a multiple turf sprint stakes winner.

Misbehaved worked a half-mile from the gate over the Oklahoma training track in 49.21 on August 21 before drilling through a half-mile over the main track in 47.66 on August 29.

“He's trained like a horse that will run well in his debut,” Pletcher said. “His last gate work was particularly good, so hopefully he gets away cleanly and runs the way he's been training.”

Leading rider Luis Saez will ride from post 4.

Olympian, owned by Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Swick Stable, makes his debut for trainer George Weaver.

The gray or roan son of American Pharoah worked a half-mile in 48 seconds flat from the gate on August 29 over the Saratoga main track.

Olympian is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Alpha Mama, who produced turf graded stakes-winner Alpha Kitten.

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano will ride from post 5.

One race prior, juveniles will contest 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf course featuring Bass Racing's regally-bred Annapolis for Pletcher.

The homebred son of War Front is out of graded stakes winner My Miss Sophia, who also was Grade 1-placed on turf.

Annapolis has several turf works under his belt, including a seven-furlong move on August 15, where he went the distance in 1:28 flat. He last went five furlongs in 1:02.77 over the Oklahoma training turf on August 29.

“He's been training well. He seemed to take to the turf course when we breezed him,” Pletcher said. We're looking forward to getting him going. He's a big, strong colt. There could be dirt in his future but right now, it looks like he's a little better on the turf.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will ride from post 6.

Mott will send out Juddmonte homebred Calloway Peak. A son of Arrogate, who won the 2016 Grade 1 Travers in record time, Calloway Peak is out of the Mizzen Mast mare Filimbi, who was a graded stakes winner at one mile over the grass. Her grand dam is 2001 Kentucky Oaks winner Flute.

“He's worked well,” Mott said “He's still a very immature colt. He's green, but we feel like we'll benefit from getting him started.”

Breaking from post 3, Calloway Peak will be piloted by Joel Rosario.

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