The admirably consistent Liberty Bull, by Darley stallion Holy Bull, recorded his second Stakes victory on Sunday 16 March when scoring decisively in the valuable WinStar Derby.
Breaking well, he sat behind the pacesetters and powered clear in the stretch to win in a time of 1:49.82, just over a second outside the track record. This was his third win in six starts and took his career earnings to over $400,000.
While talk of the Kentucky Derby may be a long way off, it should be noted that the powerful gray is now eligible for a $500,000 bonus should he go on to win the Santa Anita Derby followed by victory at Churchill.
Bred by Lawrence and Janis Levin he is out of the three-time winning Dehere mare Lasting Sensation and is from the family of Florida Derby winner Brian’s Time.
At Oaklawn Park on the same day, Kafwain filly Kadira finished a gallant third in the G3 Honeybee Stakes. Setting the pace, this three-time Stakes winner had no answer in the stretch to Eight Belles but managed to hang on gamely for an honourable show finish. This was her fifth piece of Black type in only nine starts, making her a wonderful advert for her promising sire who has already sired four Stakes winners and eight Stakes horses from his first crop.
On Monday, Holy Bull enjoyed further success (this time in the sales ring) when siring the third highest-priced colt and second highest-priced filly at the Adena Springs Sale of Two-Year-Olds. His colt out of Today's Attraction sold for $225,000, whilst Hidden Brook went to $170,000 to secure his daughter out of Kelly Key.
Holy Bull and Kafwain both stand at Darley America at fees of $15,000 and $10,000 respectively.
