Holy Bull 2024: Fierceness looks fierce indeed in sophomore debut

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The South Florida spur of the Kentucky Derby trail gets going for real on Saturday, February 3 with the Holy Bull Stakes (G3). The 1 1/16-mile dirt race not only offers a $250,000 purse but also Road to the Kentucky Derby points for the top five finishers: 20-10-6-4-2 to the top five finishers.

The series of Kentucky Derby preps at Gulfstream always produces horses who show up in the Kentucky Derby and beyond. Important horses to win the Holy Bull in recent years include Irish War Cry, Audible, Belmont winner Tiz the Law, and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner White Abarrio. In 2024, champion juvenile Fierceness makes his three-year-old debut!

Fierceness To win the Holy Bull

TBA

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Keep reading to see who has the best chance to advance down the Kentucky Derby trail through the Holy Bull, and see the best places for betting the Holy Bull Stakes online!

Betting the 2024 Holy Bull Stakes Online

Before you even take a look at the field for the Holy Bull, make sure you know the best places to bet horse racing online. After all, making a smart choice now helps you maximize your profits along the line. Our trusted online racebook reviews are here to help you make that decision easy.

All of the racebooks we recommend have the basics: a great wagering interface, market-leading odds, and trusted payouts. Each site also offers great racebook bonus offers like sign-up bonuses, deposit bonuses, and even rebates that pay you for every bet you make! Taking a few minutes now to choose the best one for your betting style can make you hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

The Best Online Racebooks

These are your best options to create an account and play the 2024 Holy Bull Stakes:

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#7		$100 Free Bet on Props + Head-to-Heads!		VISIT RACEBOOK!

Holy Bull Stakes Handicapping

Now that you have your betting account, let’s meet the field and start handicapping the 2024 Holy Bull Stakes.

Holy Bull Stakes 2024 Field

This is the official field for the 2024 Holy Bull Stakes including draw numbers, trainers, and jockeys:

1. Hades (Joseph Orseno/Paco Lopez)
2. Inveigled (Jane Cibelli/Irad Ortiz, Jr.)
3. Otello (Christophe Clement/Luis Saez)
4. Dancing Groom (Antonio Sano/Junior Alvarado)
5. No More Time (Jose D’Angelo/Jose Ortiz)
6. Domestic Product (Chad Brown/Tyler Gaffalione)
7. Fierceness (Todd Pletcher/John Velazquez)
8. Sea Streak (Eddie Owens/Luca Panici)

Closer to the race, Gulfstream will release morning-line odds for the Holy Bull. These can be a good guide to how betting is expected to go, but you are not guaranteed these odds if you play at the track or an OTB. Instead, prices will change all the way until post time.

Your best bet is to play the Holy Bull Stakes at your chosen online racebook. That way, you can build bonuses, and online racebooks even offer fixed-odds-wagering on major races. That means you can lock in the best price just by placing a bet!

Fierceness	TBA	TBA	TBA
Otello	TBA	TBA	TBA
Domestic Product	TBA	TBA	TBA
Inveigled	TBA	TBA	TBA
No More Time	TBA	TBA	TBA

Holy Bull Stakes Top Choice

Fierceness, the juvenile champion, is the horse to beat; based on form, he looks mighty tough to topple. He is the only horse with a win at the 1 1/16-mile distance of the Holy Bull, and he did so in an absolute procession in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His forward style will play well at Gulfstream, and he can be effective whether he makes the lead or presses another horse early.

Fierceness To win the Holy Bull

TBA

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The biggest concern was the fact that he ran so poorly in the Champagne (G1). However. that was a sloppy day, and the skies will be clear for days leading into the Holy Bull. He also drew near the outside, meaning he has every chance to work a clean, smooth trip from start to finish. There is also the question of the layoff, but trainer Todd Pletcher does well with fresh horses and Fierceness’ own debut win also bodes well.

Holy Bull Stakes Exotics Horses

The most likely runner to fill out the exacta under Fierceness is Domestic Product. The Chad Brown trainee has real two-turn experience, including a 1 ⅛-mile maiden victory at Aqueduct. Though he faltered in the Remsen next out, that came in the mud and he should take well to the dry track in Florida. With good tactical speed, he should be able to run a good race.

Otello also deserves some respect in exotic tickets. He tries two turns for the first time in the Holy Bull, but being by Curlin out of Isabella Sings, his pedigree is all route. He also has proven form over the local course, with a Gulfstream win in the one-turn Mucho Macho Man. Expect a good tracking trip under jockey Luis Saez, who rode him in that last-out stakes win.

Consider Dancing Groom to fill out deeper exotic tickets. Even though he faltered last out in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in November, he broke his maiden at a mile at Saratoga, which is almost a two-turn trip (as in, the horses start in a chute into the first turn). Being by Vino Rosso out of a Bernardini mare this distance should be no issue, and the new blinkers will not only help at speed-friendly Gulfstream but are a good move for local trainer Antonio Sano.

2024 Holy Bull Stakes Free Picks

You know the horses, and you have your betting account at the ready. There’s just one thing to do, and it’s the most fun part of all: bet the race!

These are the expert best bets for Saturday’s 2024 Holy Bull Stakes:

• $20 to win - #7 Fierceness
• $1 exacta key - #7 Fierceness over #3 Otello, #6 Domestic Product
• $0.50 trifecta key - #7 Fierceness over #3 Otello, #4 Dancing Groom, #6 Domestic Product
• $0.20 superfecta key - #7 Fierceness over #3 Otello, #4 Dancing Groom, #6 Domestic Product

Fierceness To win the Holy Bull

TBA

Bet Now!

Holy Bull Stakes Post Time

Post time for the 2024 Holy Bull Stakes is scheduled for 5:48 p.m. EST on Saturday, February 3. The race is the 12th and final on Gulfstream’s exciting card, featuring five stakes races for three-year-olds!