Nearly Sizzles in Allowance Victory at Gulfstream

Centennial Farms' promising 3-year-old colt Nearly may have punched his ticket to the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Jan. 31, putting away favored Confessional in midstretch and pulling clear to a 5-length victory in a first-level allowance optional claiming race Jan. 2 at Gulfstream Park. The son of Not This Time, a $350,000 purchase from the Denali Stud consignment to the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, covered 7 furlongs over a fast main track under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in 1:22.88 to register his second straight victory at Gulfstream following a dominant 9 1/4-length triumph over fellow Florida-breds sprinting 6 furlongs Nov. 22. He paid $4.60 to his backers for his victory over three opponents. Standing side by side with Confessional in the starting gate, Nearly overcame a bump at the break with that rival to settle in the clear four wide in fourth as Blame Yasself led through a quarter-mile in :22.82 pressed to his outside by Confessional. Nearly moved up alongside Confessional after a half in :46.59, and they straightened for home together, briefly engaging before Nearly edged away. "Kind of a messy start but he was able to kind of settle after that and get in a good rhythm, made a good run and finished up well," winning Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He's always trained (well). "We were shocked he didn't run better in his debut than he did (when sixth at Aqueduct). He just reacted very negatively to the kickback. I'm glad to have him regroup and show what he's capable of," he added. "It seems like he's a little more professional each start. I liked the way he finished, and we look forward to stretching him out." Following Confessional under the wire were Timeless Victory and Blame Yasself. Mob, the 9-5 program favorite that won his lone start Nov. 23; Vost, third in the Sept. 13 Iroquois Stakes (G3); and maiden winners Into the Beast and Prost were scratched. Bred by Wind Hill Farm in Florida, Nearly is out of the Mineshaft mare Ib Prospecting, whose two wins each came at 6 furlongs. Nearly could return to Gulfstream in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, the second of three local prep races on the road to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 28. The other major stakes race for 3-year-olds on dirt is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 28. "We know there's options almost every weekend all spring, so we'll talk to the Centennial guys and come up with a plan. He's 2-for-2 here at Gulfstream, so you have to think about the Holy Bull," Pletcher said. "If he needs a little more time, there's other options as well."