Just two days after the undefeated Eclipse Prize-winning 2-year-old stallion Ted Nophy was officially withdrawn from the Kentucky Derby (G1), trainer Todd Pletcher now has a promising 3-year-old in Neary, bred by Centennial Farm, following his commanding 5-3/4-length win in the $175,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
“This sport has its highs and lows—that’s the reality,” Pletcher commented. “Ted Nophy wasn’t the only one to miss the Derby path. Fortunately, he had an excellent two-year-old season, and this year wasn’t expected to be an early spring anyway. We’re thrilled with Neary’s strong outlook and healthy comeback. I’m eager to bring him to Saratoga. I don’t see this horse as a replacement, but Neary has been impressive on his own, and we hold high hopes for him.”
The Holy Bull, a 1 1/16-mile prep race, leads up to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) on March 28 at Gulfstream. This event is part of a 12-race card offering five stakes for 3-year-olds and serves as a qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 2. Points are awarded to the top five finishers (20-10-6-4-2) to help secure a spot in the 1 1/4-mile Derby.
Neary entered the race as the 8-5 second favorite among six contenders. He broke well from the gate and settled into an ideal stalking position on the outside of the 3-2 favorite, Cannonier. Cannonier took command at the first turn, setting fractions of 22.82 and 45.96 seconds for the half-mile. The son of Not This Time stayed close behind the leader through the far turn before edging ahead entering the stretch. When Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez urged him on, Neary responded decisively to score his third consecutive Gulfstream victory in just his stakes debut.
“I expected a two-horse duel, but I didn’t think my horse would be that close,” Velazquez said. “He showed some extra aggression today, which is new for him. Usually, I take a bit to get comfortable, but today I was right there from the start.”
Neary struggled with a sixth-place finish in his debut at Aqueduct on October 26 but bounced back at Gulfstream on November 22 with a 9 1/4-length off-the-pace win. He followed that with a five-length victory in an off-the-pace allowance race on January 2 over seven furlongs. Saturday marked his first experience running around two turns.
“This race took him to a new level,” Velazquez remarked. “I didn’t expect such aggression, but that’s what top horses do.”
Neary completed the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:44.52.
“He’s been training extremely well, and we went into this race with high hopes. It turned out just as we dreamed,” said Pletcher.
Neary was celebrated by a large crowd of owners in the winner’s circle.
Don Little, Jr., President of Centennial Farms, expressed, “Our partnership is passionate about this sport and patient as always. Todd’s team has been fantastic. We still have a long journey ahead, but taking this first step is crucial, and we’re thrilled to have achieved it.”
Pletcher, who previously trained Holy Bull winners Audible (2018) and Algorithms (2012), is likely to keep Neary racing at Gulfstream for the foreseeable future.
“This was only his third race, and it was a close one, so we wanted to give him experience at two turns and then reassess,” Pletcher said. “We’ll discuss the next moves with Don Little and the Centennial team before finalizing a plan.” With Neary’s perfect 3-0 Gulfstream record and ample time before the Florida Derby, staying onsite may be the wisest option.
Bravalo, hustling near the pacesetter, finished second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of slow starters Project Ace and Corey Lanerie. Meanwhile, Cannonier faded to fourth.
“He was under pressure from the winner, and the far turn made it tough for him to maneuver. It didn’t seem like he could pass,” Cannonier’s trainer Brad Cox explained. “Maybe we’ve learned his ideal distance.”
The next key Kentucky Derby prep after this is the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on February 28.
Neary, bred at Florida’s Wind Hill Farm, is by sire Not This Time out of the Mineshaft mare Ib Prospecting. He was bought for $350,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, offered by consignor Denali Stud.
This article originally appeared in the Paulick Report on February 1, 2026, under the News section.
Fan Take: Neary’s impressive turnaround and dominant Holy Bull win highlight the unpredictable nature of racing and the emergence of new stars. For horse racing fans, this signals an exciting new contender on the Derby trail and keeps the sport vibrant with fresh talent poised to make a major impact.
