Just two days after the undefeated 2-year-old Ted Noffey was withdrawn from the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher found a fresh 3-year-old star in Centennial Farms’ Nearly, who delivered a commanding performance in Saturday’s $175,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
“Ups and downs are part of this game,” Pletcher said. “Ted Noffey had a magnificent 2-year-old campaign, but it just wasn’t meant to be in the early spring. We’re happy the prognosis is good and look forward to his comeback at Saratoga. This horse has been doing well on his own, and we have high hopes for him.”
The Holy Bull, a 1 1/16-mile test that often sets the stage for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on March 28, headlined a 12-race card that included five stakes for 3-year-olds.
Nearly, the 8-5 second choice in a field of six, broke sharply and settled in a perfect stalking position just outside pacesetter Cannoneer, the 3-2 favorite. Cannoneer set solid opening fractions of 22.82 and 45.96 seconds for the first half mile. By the far turn, Nearly had drawn even and seized the lead entering the homestretch. Once asked by Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez, Nearly surged clear to win by an emphatic 5 ½ lengths, marking his third consecutive victory at Gulfstream.
“I thought it would be a two-horse race, but he got aggressive early,” Velazquez said. “Normally, it takes him a bit to get going, but today he was right there from the start.”
Nearly’s rise has been swift. After a disappointing sixth-place debut at Aqueduct in October, he captured his maiden by 9 ½ lengths at Gulfstream in November and followed up with a five-length allowance victory in early January. Saturday marked his first race around two turns, and the son of Not This Time passed the test with flying colors, stopping the clock at 1:44.52.
“The horse has been training super, and we felt good coming in. Today was everything we hoped for,” Pletcher said.
The winner’s circle celebration included a large group of Centennial Farms owners. “Our partnership group loves this sport,” said Don Little Jr., president of Centennial Farms. “We take a patient approach, and Todd’s team has been fantastic. This is the first step, and we succeeded there.”
Bravaro, under Tyler Gaffalione, finished second, 2 ½ lengths ahead of the late-running Project Ace and Corey Lanerie. Cannoneer, who set the pace early, faded to fourth.
“We were pressured by the winner,” said Cannoneer’s trainer, Brad Cox. “This may have shown us just how far he wants to go.”
Next on the calendar is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on February 28, another key steppingstone on the Road to the Curlin Florida Derby. For Nearly, Pletcher sees a measured approach. “This was his third race close together, and getting the two-turn race under his belt was the goal. He’s three-for-three at Gulfstream, and there’s plenty of time before the Florida Derby.”
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