HORSE RACING

• Winslow Homer paints Holy Bull Stakes win

  
  

  Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Winslow Homer outran 3-2 favorite Jackson Bend down the stretch to capture Saturday's $150,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The one-mile race is the first of three major races at Gulfstream for Kentucky Derby hopefuls. . Winslow Homer, ridden by Ramon Dominguez, got bumped leaving the gate at the start, but was able to settle just a few lengths off the lead. Setting the initial pace was Piscitelli with Aikenite in second.

  Aikenite and Winslow Homer both were 7-2 at post-time in the nine horse field.

  Taking the field into the far turn was Homeboykris followed by Thank U Philippe, Piscitelli and Jackson Bend. Around the final turn Winslow Homer began to improve his position on the inside and joined Jackson Bend on the lead at the top of the stretch.

  Trained by Tony Dutrow, Winslow Homer edged past Jackson Bend in mid-stretch and prevailed at the wire by three-quarters of a length. Coming in third was William's Kitten followed by Thank U Philippe, Homeboykris, Aikenite, Wild Lime, Litigation Risk and Piscitelli.

  "There is always a little concern when you are up on the inside covered up," noted Dominguez, "especially with a young horse like him, but I was hoping that somewhere along the line things would open up because I felt like I had a lot of horse. And when the hole barely opened up, he squeezed through horses, and did it very professionally. When he made the lead, he started to come back to me so I had to encourage him a little to keep going, but he's a professional and he's just improving tremendously with each race." The time for the mile was 1:35.97 on a fast track.

  "I came here today without any particular expectations, just hoping he would keep his place in line (on the Derby trail)," said Dutrow. "Naturally, I have to be very pleased with the way he ran. Mr.

  (Rick) Porter and I decided we might be in business with a good horse after we watched him work one morning at Delaware Park in about late June and he hasn't disappointed us yet. We'll look ahead now to the Fountain of Youth if all goes well. He's actually bred for two turns. The goal is the Kentucky Derby." Winslow Homer, owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms, picked up $90,000 with the victory to bring his earnings to $152,825. The gray colt was making his stakes debut on Saturday after winning his last two starts. He was third in his first career start at Delaware Park.

  Winslow Homer returned $9.60, $4.60 and $3.60. Jackson Bend, ridden by Jeremy Rose, paid $3.40 and $2.60, and William's Kitten paid $4.40 to show.

  Coming up next at Gulfstream Park on February 20 is the Fountain of Youth and on March 20 is the Florida Derby.

  01/23 18:26:21 ET