Algorithms capped a big day for trainer Todd Pletcher's speedy 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park, winning the $400,000 Holy Bull Stakes.
Algorithms, ridden by Javier Castellano, passed 2-year-old champion Hansen in the stretch and pulled away to win by five lengths, running a mile on the sloppy dirt track in 1:36.17.
''We had a good post and he broke sharp, but Javier said he relaxed from there,'' Pletcher said. ''This race was going to tell us where we were with him, running against the 2-year-old champion. Now he's done everything we've asked him to. It's too early to say what we might do with him at this point.
''You can never have enough good 3-year-olds, but you hate to run them against each other. Now we have Discreet Dancer and this colt that are 2-for-2 over the track. He's by Bernardini and I don't think he'll have distance limitations. So we just have to sort things out from here.''
Earlier, Pletcher's Broadway's Alibi won the $200,000 Forward Gal for 3-year-old fillies, and his El Padrino took a $53,500 allowance race for 3-year-olds.
Algorithms paid $7, $2.80 and $2.40 for his third victory in three starts.
''I wanted to take my time and not rush my horse,'' Castellano said. ''Hansen has a lot of speed and he's the 2-year-old champion, so I was just really patient and waited for the right time to move. He felt absolutely amazing today. He broke so sharp and wanted to go to the lead, but I just took my time. I don't think two turns will be a problem for him. I rode his father, Bernardini, to win the Preakness and other big races and, hopefully, this horse can be like that. He certainly is in the right hands with Todd Pletcher.''
Hansen, the 2011 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, stumbled coming out of the gate.
''After he stumbled, he popped up and jumped right in the bit,'' trainer Mike Maker said. ''He was a little headstrong and fresh, but other than that it was a good effort. He galloped out strong, so we're pleased.''
Ramon Dominguez rode Hansen.
''He has a lot of speed and he might have been a little bit fresh today, too, which is why we went a little faster than I was looking for,'' Dominguez said. ''He stumbled coming out of the gate and he picked himself up pretty quickly, but sometimes that scares a horse a little bit and they go a little fast. The stumble probably didn't help but it's not an excuse. I'm not happy that he didn't win, but I'm not totally disappointed. When he got passed he really dug in and he galloped out really well.''
Hansen returned $2.40 and $2.10, and My Adonis paid $4 to show in the six-horse field.
In the Forward Gal, Broadway's Alibi routed the field, beating Say a Novena by 16 3/4 lengths.
''She's fast,'' Pletcher said. ''I don't know about distance. I guess we'll have to find out at some point.''
Ridden by John Velazquez, the winner ran 7 furlongs in 1:21.94 and paid $4.40, $2.80 and $2.10 for her second victory in four career starts.
''Last I rode her, I tried to take a big hold and she didn't like that. She threw her head up and drifted out pretty bad,'' Velazquez said. ''Today, I decided to just let her rock and roll and it worked better. She still drifted a little. I guess it's just a bad habit. She's just so fast, I wasn't going to fight her.''
Say a Novena returned $3.80 and $2.40, and Sacristy paid $2.20.
El Padrino took a step toward the Kentucky Derby with a two-length victory, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.68 and paying $7.20, $3.60 and $3.20.
''He's a nice colt. We thought a lot of him from Day 1. He's still figuring things out, but he's a pretty talented horse who should continue to improve,'' said Pletcher, noting the $400,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream on Feb. 26 is a possible target for Lets Go Stable's colt.
Take Charge Indy returned $4 and $3.40, and Argentine Tango paid $7.
