A Mott-trained colt embarking on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail is hardly news. But the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Jan. 31 at Gulfstream Park provides a wrinkle as it does not include a starter for trainer Bill Mott but his son, Riley Mott.
One season after Hall of Famer Bill won the Derby and Belmont Stakes (G1) with Sovereignty, son Riley will send Incredibolt into the starting gate for the Holy Bull, an important Kentucky Derby prep.
The son of Bolt d'Oro is one of nine 3-year-olds entered in the 37th running of the Holy Bull, a two-turn test at 1 1/16 miles. The dark bay or brown colt out of the Awesome Again mare Sapphire Spitfire drew the rail.
"I like the rail draw, especially with the short run into the first turn," Riley Mott said. "I think it's ideal."
Under Jaime Torres, Incredibolt will carry a race-high 124 pounds, which will be up to six pounds more than each member in the rest of the field.
"What impresses me most about Incredibolt is his athleticism and his willingness in his training," Mott said.
After finishing fourth in his career opener at Ellis Park in August, Incredibolt won twice at Churchill Downs, including the Street Sense Stakes (G3) Oct. 26 when he rallied from seventh early in his first try at two turns. The Holy Bull will mark his 3-year-old debut.
The Holy Bull offers qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Derby on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis for the top five finishers. Incredibolt secured 10 qualifying points with his win in the Street Sense.
Several of the sport's more renowned trainers also will send starters to the gate.
Todd Pletcher's Nearly, a Florida-bred son of Not This Time , will make his stakes debut under John Velazquez from the No. 7 post position. The dark bay or brown colt has won his past two starts at Gulfstream by a combined 14 1/4 lengths after finishing sixth at Aqueduct in his Oct. 26 debut. He defeated other Florida-breds in his Nov. 22 maiden win before following with a score over open company in a Jan. 2 allowance-level race.
Buetane, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Joel Rosario, will make his two-turn debut—starting just inside of Nearly. The chestnut is 1-2-0 in three starts and enters off runner-up finishes in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course Sept. 1 and the San Vicente Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park Jan. 10.
Cannoneer, from trainer Brad Cox's stable, will break from post position 5 with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. The Into Mischief colt ran in two maiden special weight races at Churchill Downs, finishing third in June before winning in November.
Bravaro, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, will start in the No. 8 post position. The New York-bred chestnut son of Upstart is 2-for-2, in a maiden special weight and Sleepy Hollow Stakes wins at Aqueduct.
Florida-bred Roger That Dana (trainer Luis Ramirez, jockey Renzo Rojas) in post position 2, Project Ace (Dale Romans, Corey Lanerie) in post position 3, Global Aviator (Rohan Crichton, Joe Bravo) in post position 4 and Game for It (Chad Summers, Junior Alvarado) on the outside fill out the field.
Gulfstream Park, Saturday, January 31, 2026, Race 12Entries: Holy Bull S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Incredibolt (KY) Jaime A. Torres 124 Riley Mott - 2 Roger That Dana (FL) Renzo Rojas 118 Luis M. Ramirez - 3 Project Ace (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 118 Dale L. Romans - 4 Global Aviator (KY) Joe Bravo 118 Rohan G. Crichton - 5 Cannoneer (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 118 Brad H. Cox - 6 Buetane (KY) Joel Rosario 122 Bob Baffert - 7 Nearly (FL) John R. Velazquez 120 Todd A. Pletcher - 8 Bravaro (NY) Tyler Gaffalione 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. - 9 Game for It (KY) Junior Alvarado 118 Chad Summers -
