BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Centennial Farms’ Florida-bred star Nearly jumped on the Kentucky Derby trail with authority Saturday, running away to a five-and-three-quarters-length victory in the $267,500 Holy Bull (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park. With the Hall of Fame team of jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher, Nearly earned 20 points on the leaderboard for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1) to be run at Churchill Downs on May 1.
Six 3-year-olds raced a mile-and-sixteenth in the Holy Bull, the second step on Gulfstream’s road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby set for March 28. The $400,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) on Feb. 28 will be next on the Derby trail at Gulfstream.
Nearly popped from the starting gate first from post five and raced with 3-2 favorite Cannoneer to his inside into the clubhouse turn. Cannoneer and Nearly raced in tandem through quarter-mile splits of :22.82 and :45.96 before Nearly began to get the edge around the second turn.
“I thought it was going to be a two-horse race, but I didn’t think my horse would be that close,” Velazquez said. “He got a little aggressive today. He was never like that. Normally, it takes him a little while to get his legs under him, but today he was there right away.”
Bravaro tried to get close at the quarter pole but Nearly kicked away from his rivals in the stretch, finishing in 1:44.52 on the fast track.
Bravaro was second, two-and-three-quarters lengths ahead of Project Ace in third. Cannoneer, Global Aviator and Incredibolt completed the order of finish. Bravaro earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and Project Ace picked up six points. Cannoneer and Global Aviator earned four and two Derby points respectively.
“This race he elevated to a different level,” Velazquez said. “I didn’t expect him to be that aggressive. But that’s what good horses do.”
Pletcher also said he was surprised to see Nearly on the lead early.
“We wanted to get to the first turn forwardly—not necessarily on the lead but in a good stalking position,” Pletcher said. “[Nearly and Cannoneer] went to the first turn and they were clicking right along. It looked like he got into a good rhythm. At that point, I was a little worried about who might be closing from behind because they went pretty fast together early. But it looked like he turned for home and had a lot of horse under him.
Florida-bred Nearly (2nd from left) – ©Nicole Thomas
“It was an impressive race. We always felt like he would handle the stretch-out but it’s always good to see.”
It was the third straight win for Nearly after the dark bay or brown colt finished sixth in his first career start during the Belmont at Big A meet at Aqueduct Race Track on October 26. He returned to his native Sunshine State for his next two starts at Gulfstream, breaking his maiden by nine-and-a-quarter lengths against fellow Florida-breds on Nov. 22. He then took a first level, $75,000 optional claiming by five lengths going seven furlongs on January 2.
Nearly, who has won his last three by a combined 20 lengths, earned $170,950 Saturday to increase his bankroll to $249,900 in four starts.
He is by Not This Time out of the Mineshaft mare Ib Prospecting and was bred in Florida by Kris Gibbons, who along with her husband Howard own Wind Hill Farm located in Morriston, Florida. Nearly is the only winner in two starters for Ib Prospecting, a half-sister to stakes-winner and graded stakes-producer Frolic’s Revenge.
“My feet haven’t come to the ground yet,” Kris Gibbons said. “Oh my gosh it’s been so exciting. The people with Centennial and everybody are just so wonderful. You just have to give credit to everybody that have been a part of this and the people who have been taking care of [Nearly]. He has such a good trainer and good owners. I’m just so very thankful.”
Gibbons said she had tried to claim Ib Prospecting several times when the mare was racing in Southern California, but twice lost the shake at the claim box. She then tried unsuccessfully to purchase Ib Prospecting privately, but was turned away. Eventually, she was introduced to trainer Patrick Gallagher, who claimed Ib Prospecting for Gibbons for $25,000 at Del Mar in August of 2018.
The first foal out of Ib Prospecting was Diente d’Oro, a Florida-bred son of Bolt d’Oro. Gibbons sold him as a weanling for $180,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. Nearly was the second foal.
“This guy, he was just a very playful colt that always wanted to interact with people,” Gibbons said. “We got him a huge ball that they play with in the paddock. He taught himself how to play soccer and he used to take it in his mouth and throw it over the fence. So we’d have to throw it back to him. This guy was just so brilliant.
“He was a big colt, so we had our hands full trying to prep him for the sale.”
Centennial purchased Nearly for $350,000 out of the Denali Stud consignment at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Nearly is the second Florida-bred in three years to take the Holy Bull, following Hades in 2024. He is the 11th Florida-bred winner overall going back to Pride of Burkaan in 1993 and Suave Prospect in 1995 when the race was known as the Preview Stakes. Other Florida-bred winners of the Holy Bull include Arthur L. (1997), Hal’s Hope (2000), Radical Riley (2001), Booklet (2002), Second of June (2004), Closing Argument (2005) and Hey Byrn in 2008.
Return to the January 31 issue of Wire to Wire
