Incredibolt to Make 3-Year-Old Debut in Holy Bull

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 4 to 6 pounds more than 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 2 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 post 7. 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 Racetrack 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.

Cannoneer , from trainer Brad Cox's stable, will break from post position 5 under 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 post position 8. The New York-bred chestnut son of Upstart   is 2-for-2, with wins in a maiden special weight race and the Sleepy Hollow Stakes, both at Aqueduct.

Trainer Bob Baffert entered multiple graded-placed Buetane , but the California-based runner has been scratched due to flight cancellations. Chad Summers trainee Game for It  is also expected to scratch, according to Gulfstream Park publicity, leaving an expected field of seven. Rounding out the field are 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, and Global Aviator  (Rohan Crichton, Joe Bravo) in post position 4.