A basketfull of changes to the Holly Bull Stakes, with the current choice at 1-3/16 miles, could help a youngster prepping for the Kentucky Derby. Hey Byrn took it well.
Holy Bull, what distance is the stakes race this season? Hey Byrn hoofed around the course with an I-don't-care-what-distance-you-set attitude and beat the field of six others to boost his personal earnings to $90,00 under jockey Charles C. Lopez.
Race's Distance Has Withstood Four Changes Since 1991
A Thoroughbred Preppy for the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown series of three long-distance races in May and June might be well served by the current choice of distance for the Holly Bull Stakes, 1-3/16 miles. That's the same distance as the second leg of the Triple Crown races, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, traditionally run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby.
In 2007, the Holy Bull, named for the great racer and sire of the same name, was revamped to run at the distance of one mile. That change followed after the contest was set at 1-1/8 miles in 2005 and 2006. From 1991 through 2004, the stakes chase was put at 1-1/16 miles
Hey Byrn Was This Season's Most Publicized Holly Bull Contestant
In this year's early Thoroughbred season, Hey Byrn was getting some respect as a possible Kentucky Derby contestant. In his stakes debut in 2007, the colt placed second to Wise Answer in division contests held in the Florida Stallion Stakes series.
In 2008, he moved into brawnier competition, taking on the likes of Big Brown in the Florida Derby Mar.29. Big Brown was a big winner, but Hey Byrn ran fourth and turned some heads.
Previous to the Florida Derby, Hey Byrn, a Put It Back colt trained by Edward Plesa, Jr., won two straight allowance races at Gulfstream Park in Florida. He finished six lengths in front at 1-1/8 miles Mar.2 and sailed by the field on Feb.10 by a whopping 14-1/2 lengths at a pony's play distance of one mile.
For the Holy Bull Stakes, he was the obvious favorite. He delivered, covering the 1-3/16 miles in 1:58.14. He ran through Dream Maestro, sired by Concerto, and Famous Patriot, a Repent colt, and left Nick Zito-trained Web Gem out of the money.
Web Gem is a Fusaichi Pegasus product who made his stakes debut in the Holy Bull run. He had previously raced second to War Pass on Feb.24 in a Gulfstream allowance event.
Lopez 11th on Stakes Winners List
Hey Byrn, owned by Beatrice Oxenberg, helped boost his jockey to 11th position on the season's stakes winning leader board. Lopez had 18 starts, six firsts, and one stakes win, with total earnings of $219,286 as of Apr.14
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