Global Aviator, who has not competed since a gritty maiden win over the Thanksgiving weekend, is set to kick off his three-year-old campaign in the $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (Grade 3) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The 1 1/16-mile race serves as Gulfstream’s second prep event leading up to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (Grade 1) scheduled for March 28, following the 1-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes on January 4. Owner and trainer Rohan Crichton had deliberately skipped earlier opportunities, aiming specifically for this race.
“He’s in good shape,” said Crichton. “He just needed more recovery time between his races and the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, but now he’s ready to go. I can’t expect anything more from him at this point.”
Purchased for a modest $12,000 as a yearling, Global Aviator is the offspring of Global Campaign, a 2020 Woodward Stakes (Grade 1) winner who earned millions and placed third in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Global Campaign himself boasts three wins out of four starts at Gulfstream, including a 2019 allowance win at this same 1 1/16-mile distance.
In his debut race, Global Aviator started slowly in a six-furlong maiden special weight, initially trailing by as much as eight lengths. Despite difficulties early on, including getting unsettled by jockey Joe Bravo, he rallied strongly, seized a brief lead down the stretch, and edged out the competition by a neck in 1:10.71.
Crichton noted, “I thought he was suited for longer distances. I didn’t expect him to be fully sharp yet, so it was a pleasant surprise how strong he was, especially given how much energy he showed after the start.”
Since that debut, Global Aviator has logged five solid workouts, with his latest being an easy half-mile in 51.42 seconds on January 24. Judged a 5-1 morning line favorite, Bravo will ride again from post position four.
“He picked up a lot from training,” Crichton added. “He has learned to handle kickback dirt better, and we’ve made progress with him.”
Global Aviator is the favorite in a field of nine with odds of 9-5. Other notable contenders include Cannonier (2-1), who recently claimed a dominant seven-and-quarter-length victory at Churchill Downs, and Incredivolt (9-2), a two-time winner including the 1 1/16-mile Street Sense Stakes (G3), making his three-year-old debut. Bravalo, undefeated in two starts against New York-breds, will also be in the mix after closing out his juvenile season with a win at Aqueduct.
Crichton remains optimistic but cautious, saying, “It’s going to be a competitive race with high-quality horses, though the field isn’t large. This is only my second race with him and the first time running two turns, so there’s a lot to learn. I hope everything goes smoothly.”
This story was first published by Paulick Report on January 30, 2026.
Fan Take: This race spotlights an emerging talent in Global Aviator, whose modest purchase price and promising early form could inspire hope in fans and owners looking for the next great horse. How he performs in the Holy Bull Stakes will provide key insight into the crop of 3-year-olds shaping up for the spring classics, making it an exciting event for horse racing enthusiasts.
