Audible Announces Himself With Holy Bull Triumph

At the start of the $350,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G2), Audible had to straighten himself out after taking contact from the longest shot on the board. On the final turn, he had a grade 1 winner breathing down his neck, threatening to give his rival a lesson in what really comes with a step up in class.

The good ones know how to shake off such challenges, however, and in the 1 1/16-mile test at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3 , the latest wunderkind from the barn of Todd Pletcher announced himself as such. In his first try against graded company against some of more well-regarded members of his class, it was Audible who looked most professional of all in a statement-making outing on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

It wouldn't be prep season without a Pletcher-trained youngster throwing down an eye-catching run at Gulfstream Park and Audible answered that bell in emphatic fashion Saturday. After racing three-wide down the backstretch, the son of Into Mischief  turned back a challenge from Free Drop Billy on the far turn and then thoroughly humbled all of his eight foes during a 5 1/2-length victory in the Holy Bull.

The Holy Bull offered qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale towards the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and succeeded in luring a field considered among the saltiest of the preps thus far. In addition to Free Drop Billy and his top-level winning self, graded winner Enticed came in with 9-5 favoritism off his victory over fellow entrant Tiz Mischief in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in November.

Though he didn't try stakes company in his three starts as a 2-year-old, Audible did tease of being one to monitor once the march towards the first Saturday in May started to heat up. After breaking his maiden second-time out in a one-mile test at Aqueduct Racetrack Nov. 15, the bay colt stalked-and-pounced his way to a sizzling 9 3/4-length allowance win over the same track  and distance Dec. 6.

"We actually brought him down (to Florida) a little bit later because we were entered in the New York-bred stake, and then all the bad weather hit in New York and it got delayed and carried over," Pletcher said. "Maybe it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The original plan was to run him in the New York-bred stake and then bring him down but when all the bad weather hit we came up with a different strategy and it seemed to work out well today.

"He shipped in great, he trained really well when he got here so it kind of made it an easy decision that this was an easy race to target."

Audible had shown in his two prior wins he was handy enough to rate wherever needed. That tractability got a nice showcase in the Holy Bull when he recovered from a bump with 108-1 longshot Bandito at the start and settled between horses three-wide in second as Master Manipulator led the field through an opening quarter-mile in :23.59.

Jockey Javier Castellano had Audible tracking third as they reached the half-mile in :47.14 and confidently began asking for a sustained run approaching the final turn. With the weakening pacesetter dropping out of it just past the three-eighths pole, Audible then had to deal with Free Drop Billy rolling on his outside in that one's first start since running ninth in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

It was a battle which ended in quick order with Audible putting the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner away at the head of the lane and drawing off handily as he hit the wire in 1:41.92 over a track rated fast.

"I love the way he did it today, compared to our last race, because his last race he was still developing and bit laid back," Castellano said of his mount. "I really had to ride him last time out and he'd give it to you. Today he was sharp and had tactical speed in the race and we could move and he'd give me everything I asked of him. I love these kinds of horses ... where you can move quick and can put them in a good position.

"It's only a mile and sixteenth today, but the way he galloped out was amazing. I look forward to the next race."

Free Drop Billy was a clear second-best, finishing 7 3/4-lengths in front of Dale Romans-trained stablemate Tiz Mischief in third. Enticed had no response after a ground-saving trip and ended up fourth, well clear of Pony Up in fifth.

"He ran hard. He tried hard. The winner was tough," said Luis Saez, jockey of Free Drop Billy. "Maybe after the layoff he got a little tired, but he tried. I think he'll be ready for his next start."

Added Joel Rosario, jockey of Enticed, "I got a good trip. He just didn't give me a run."

Audible is owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International, and SF Racing and improved his record to three wins from four starts with  $287,720 in earnings.

"I think the question now is do you run him two more times or one more time and we'll let him tell us kind of how he bounces out of this," Pletcher said. "He's a very kind horse to train, very easy on himself in the morning. I love the way he came over here and handled everything. He was perfect in the paddock, post parade, gate - all those little intangibles that really help with horses that are pointing for big days."

Bred in New York by Oak Bluff Stables out of the Gilded Time mare Blue Devil Bel, Audible was purchased by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club for $500,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Florida March 2-year-olds in training sale.