BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Nearly and Roger That Dana will be in search of points on the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) leaderboard Saturday when the two Florida-bred sophomores run in the $275,000 Holy Bull (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park. Centennial Farms’ Nearly is the highly regarded 9-5 morning line favorite among the eight 3-year-olds entered in the mile-and-one-sixteenth test while Smith Ranch Stables’ Roger That Dana is 20-1 in the program. Both will vie for their share of $25,000 included in the purse from the Florida-bred Incentive Fund.
The Holy Bull offers 42 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis. Both Nearly and Roger That Dana are trying for their initial points.
Nearly has won two of his three career starts for trainer Todd Pletcher, the last two by a combined 14 ¼ lengths at Gulfstream Park. He was sixth in his first race in October, a six-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight won by Epic Summer during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct. Epic Summer runs earlier on the Saturday card at Gulfstream in the $175,000 Swale Stakes.
But Nearly has been sensational since returning to his home state, first crushing a six-furlong maiden special weight for Florida-breds on November 22, winning by nine-and-a-quarter lengths. He was again impressive last out on January 2 when he cruised home to take a first condition, $75,000 optional claiming by five lengths. He completed the seven furlongs in 1:22.88 on a fast track for a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, tops among all 3-year-olds in North America in 2026.
He has two works since his last race including a bullet :48.59 half-mile last Saturday at Palm Beach Downs, the fastest of 25 four-furlong works that morning at the training center.
An earner of $78,950, Nearly was a $350,000 buy for Centennial Farms at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where he was consigned by Denali Stud. He is by Not This Time out of the Mineshaft mare Ib Prospecting, a half-sister to stakes-winning and graded stakes-producer Frolic’s Revenge and stakes-producer Fashionable Frolic. The dark bay or brown colt was bred in Florida by Howard and Kris Gibbons’ Wind Hill Farm located in Morriston, Florida.
John Velazquez was aboard for the allowance victory and gets the return mount for the Holy Bull. They will start from post seven.
Roger That Dana has more stakes experience with two of three starts coming against black-type company, all at Gulfstream.
Trainer Luis Ramirez saddled him for a three-lengths score in a six-furlong maiden special weight in his first race against Florida-breds on October 25. He then was third in the $300,000 In Reality, the mile-and-a-sixteenth and final leg of the colts and geldings division of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes on November 29.
He started his 3-year-old campaign finishing second to Commandment in the $155,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes going a mile on January 3, pushing his career earnings to $103,200 in his three races.
Roger That Dana is by Ocala Stud stallion Awesome Slew out of Take Me to Zuber, by Toccet and was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud, who consigned the bay ridgling at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales June Sale. Bloodstock agent Sean S. Perl took him for $85,000.
Roger That Dana will be ridden by Renzo Rojas from post two.
Rounding out the field are Incredibolt and jockey Jaime Torres, Project Ace with Corey Lanerie in the saddle, Joe Bravo rides Global Aviator, Cannoneer with Irad Ortiz Jr. up, Bravaro will have Tyler Gaffalione aboard and Junior Alvarado rides Game for It. Buetane is scratched.
Return to the January 30 issue of Wire to Wire
