$275,000 HOLY BULL (G3) POST RACE QUOTES

Winning Time: 1:44.52
Winning Margins: 5 ¾, 2 ¾, 1 ¼
Winning Payoff: $5.40
Fractions: :22.82, :45.96, 1:10.32, 1:37.42
Order of finish: Nearly, Bravaro, Project Ace, Cannoneer, Global Aviator, Incredibolt.
Scratched: Buetane, Game for It, Roger That Dana.

Centennial Farms owner Don Little (Nearly, 1st): “It’s terrific. The partnership group we have loves this game, loves the sport, they’re patient as we always are and Todd’s team has been great. We have a long way to go but taking the first step to go is the first step and we succeeded there.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher (Nearly, 1st): “We wanted to get to the first turn forwardly, not necessarily on the lead but in a good stalking position. He kind of broke inward a little bit and recovered. Those two 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. It was an impressive race. We always felt like he would handle the stretchout but it’s always good to see.”

“The horse has been training super and we felt good coming into this but, yeah, that was everything we hoped it would be.”

“You have ups and downs in this game, that’s just the way it is. [Ted Noffey] won’t be the only defection on the way to the Derby. We were fortunate he had a magnificent 2-year-old campaign, and it just wasn’t meant to be in the early spring for this year. We’re happy the prognosis is good for a healthy comeback and we look forward to getting him back at Saratoga. I don’t really look at it like this one replaces that one. This horse has been doing well on his own and we have high hopes for him. We’re happy to have him.”

“We kind of talked about it. This was his third race pretty close together and we felt like we’d get the two-turn race under his belt and see where we stood. I think after seeing that today, I’ll talk to Don Little and the Centennial [Farm] guys and we’ll come up with a plan. But the horse is three-for-three at Gulfstream and there’s plenty of time to the Florida Derby. It probably makes sense to take a close look at staying home.”

Jockey John Velazquez (Nearly, 1st): “I thought it was going to be a two-horse race, but I didn’t think my horse would be that close. 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.”

“This race he elevated to a different level. I didn’t expect him to be that aggressive, but that’s what good horses do.”

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. (Bravaro, 2nd): “Very happy. He was a little keen early behind a fast pace like that but that’s off a layoff. He made his run at the horse. The winner was the best horse today. I’m very happy with it. I feel like it’s going to set him up big going forward and fingers crossed all goes well we feel like we have a legit horse on the Derby trail. He’ll stay inside, he’ll go outside. Obviously today he drew well and had an outside trip but he’ll take dirt like he has in his previous races. I think the horse is a very good horse.”

Trainer Dale Romans (Project Ace, 3rd): “I was happy with him. These are quality horses and to make up that kind of ground on this track [with the] short wire, we thought if we could hit the board we’d be happy. He ran his race. That’s his style. That’s just how he’s going to be. He’s always going to be like that. But that might be good going a mile and a quarter.”

Trainer Brad Cox (Cannoneer, 4th): “We got pressured by the winner. I didn’t really see any excuse other than going into the far turn it didn’t look like he was going to be able to fend off that horse. We may have found out just how far he wants to go.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Cannoneer, 4th): “He broke good. The winner broke good also and I thought I was going to be ahead of him, but I could never get away from him. It was a strong pace. I think that was the plan. We rode like a match race. I think if he was in front of me I don’t have any chance to catch him. I went with my plan and it didn’t work out this time. I’m happy with my horse. It’s only his third start and he jumped from seven [furlongs] to a mile and a sixteenth today after a long layoff this is only his second race. I have faith in him. I liked what I felt going to the backside. It was a strong pace and he was traveling so good and so beautiful. I know they kept going but it’s only his third start but I believe he can do it, definitely. He has some talent. We just have to get him together and give him every chance.”

Jockey Jaime Torres (Incredibolt, 6th): “I think we got a beautiful position breaking from the gate and I was happy where I was, but as soon as I got to the backside I felt like he was just spinning his wheels. I tried to keep my position and tried to keep going with them, but he just couldn’t. I just feel like maybe it was because it was his first time here. He needed the experience.”