Cyclone Mischief the One to Catch in Holy Bull

The lack of heavy hitters in the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park could very well mark the coming out party, and an elusive trip to the Kentucky Derby (G1), for any one of the eight sophomores lining up for the 1 1/16-mile contest Feb. 4.  

Standing slightly above the medley of 3-year-olds, at least on paper, is Albaugh Family Stables and Castleton Lyons' Cyclone Mischief . The Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief  , a $450,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, was deduced as a Triple Crown candidate before he had even reached the starting gate for his career debut. A two-turn horse from the get-go, Cyclone Mischief debuted at a mile last September at Churchill Downs. Finishing a close third that day, he put on a dazzling display at Keeneland a month later, sailing home a 5 1/4-length winner.

The powerful maiden victory prompted his connections to try stakes company, and after pressing the early pace in the Nov. 26 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2), he struck the lead around the turn for home before faltering to seventh in the final furlong.

The South Florida sun proved just the remedy, and Cyclone Mischief rebounded in a big way in a Jan. 8 allowance optional claimer over the Gulfstream strip. Wresting his advantage at the three-furlong marker, the bay continued to pour it onto the wire, defeating his foes by 5 3/4-lengths and chalking up a 101 Equibase Speed Figure.

"I think he's one of the best 3-year-olds in the country, and he's training like one," trainer Dale Romans said of Cyclone Mischief. "There are a lot of good horses out there, but we’re in a good spot right now."

Tyler Gaffalione, victorious in this race last year aboard White Abarrio , has the mount on Cyclone Mischief.

With 40 Kentucky Derby points on the line, and 20 going specifically to the winner, Cyclone Mischief will need to prove he can carry his high cruising speed while facing stiffer competition. The task could serve as a revelation, as the colt will no doubt have company on the front end with from Mucho Macho Man Stakes runner-up Legacy Isle  and the Bill Mott-trained Rocket Can .

Daniel Walters, Dennis Smith, Anthony Smith, and Rohan Crichton's Legacy Isle crossed the wire first in the Jan. 1 Mucho Man Stakes only to be taken down due and placed second to Dreaming of Kona  for a late tussle with that rival in deep stretch.

Prior to the Mucho Macho Man, the speedy Shackleford  colt had been undefeated in two starts over the Hallandale oval, including a three-length tally over allowance optional company going two turns Nov. 27. Luis Saez has the call on Legacy Isle for Crichton.

Another horse to watch coming out of the Mucho Macho Man will be the Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained Lord Miles . The Vegso Racing Stable homebred closed relentlessly down the center of the track in the Mucho Macho Man, coming up a neck short of Dreaming of Kona at the wire. A son of the distance-savvy sire Curlin  , the extra sixteenth is sure to work in Lord Miles' favor on Saturday.

The Mucho Macho Man was the stakes debut and second start for Lord Miles, who dusted a field of maidens by 5 3/4-lengths in his six-furlong debut Nov. 19 at Gulfstream. Piloted by 2022's Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., the colt tuned up for the Holy Bull with a sharp :59 3/5 five-furlong bullet breeze at Palm Meadows Training Center last Friday.

Entries: Holy Bull S. (G3)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, February 04, 2023, Race 12

• Grade III
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $250,000
• 3 yo
• 5:43 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Lord Miles (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
2	West Coast Cowboy (KY)	Edgard J. Zayas	118	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	-
3	Shadow Dragon (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	William I. Mott	-
4	Cyclone Mischief (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	120	Dale L. Romans	-
5	Mr Bob (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Robert N. Falcone, Jr.	-
6	Legacy Isle (KY)	Luis Saez	120	Rohan Crichton	-
7	Il Miracolo (KY)	Leonel Reyes	118	Antonio Sano	-
8	Rocket Can (KY)	Junior Alvarado	118	William I. Mott	-