It’S Definitely Bull Or Bust

Sat., Aug. 20, 1994

Bill Finley New York Daily News

Forget about the Kentucky Derby or any race in his future; today’s Travers will be the most important race Holy Bull has ever had or ever will have.

Everyone already knows he is a good horse, but there have been plenty of good horses that have come and gone over the years. Is he a special horse? The Travers, with all the obstacles it poses for Holy Bull, will answer that question.

For him to win, he will have to be an extraordinary animal, nothing less than the best horse that has raced in this country since at least Easy Goer/Sunday Silence. It’s not about beating ordinary horses at his favorite distance with his favorite trip. Not anymore.

In order to win, he will have to beat a very good horse in Tabasco Cat. In most any other year, he would be the runaway leader in the chase for Horse of the Year. He probably had a legitimate excuse in the Kentucky Derby when he acted up in the gate before running over a track he didn’t like. Since then, Tabasco Cat won the Preakness and Belmont, capturing two-thirds of the Triple Crown.

In order to win, he will have to prove he can handle the classic distance of 1 miles. Some believe it is beyond his range, that he is a glorified sprinter good enough to win at 9 furlongs. In order to win, he will have to overcome what could be a difficult trip. Commanche Trail, the rabbit, is there to guarantee he does not get an easy lead and steal the race.

These are problems, but that may be good news for Holy Bull. Reputations are made in races like this, not in the Dwyers of the world.

The one “problem” that Holy Bull should chew up and spit out is Tabasco Cat stablemate Commanche Trail. I don’t know what trainer Jimmy Croll will tell jockey Mike Smith, but it should be: “Pay no attention to that horse. He does not have the speed or the class to bother Holy Bull. Crush him like a bug.”

So, what will it be?

Circumstances may be in Tabasco Cat’s favor, but he is not as good a horse as Holy Bull. Sometimes issues that clear, that simple and that important get lost. Holy Bull is special. He will win.

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It’S Definitely Bull Or Bust

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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