Undefeated and 26/1… ok, the public fell asleep on this one.  Cherrytree Hill Farm’s Compress kept his record clean as a whistle as he rallied from mid-pack and took the win in Saturday’s The Holy Bull Stakes (GII) at GP.  The final time for the 1 1/16m was 1:41.33 on the fast Hallendale main track.  Post Time favorite Ned Isakoff was a neck back in second and Le Quartier rounded out the top three, making a $667.80 trifecta.

The field loaded quickly and was away in good order, making the short run into the clubhouse turn with Custer Of The West away quickest of all, Ned Isakoff to his outside, Symboli Rudolf towards the rail.  Dj Fireraj to his outside, Compress, Le Quartier back on the rail, Winning Barbarino from the far outside and Atomic Titty Twister was sagging back early.

Around the clubhouse turn and onto the back side, now five and a half furlongs to turn and Ned Isakoff moved out to a three length lead.  Custer Of The West dropped over to the rail, Dj Fireraj on his flank, then a length and a half to Symoli Rudolf saving ground.  Compress on his shoulder, then a length back to Le Quartier, Atomic Titty Twister cupped up along the rail and Winning Barbarino at the back.

Continue down the back stretch and now into the far turn with three furlongs to run, Ned Isakoff was still showing the way by three lengths, Custer Of The West tracking along in second, Compress moving up three wide with D j Fireraj next to him.Another length back to Symoli Rulof still saving ground, Le Quartier three wide with Atomic Titty Twister pushing up between that pair and Winning Barbarino still trailing, eight lengths covered the field.

Swing around the turn and into the lane, the field was nearing the furlong marker, Ned Isakoff still led the way by nearly three lengths.  Compress was feeling the whip and responding, Custer Of The West to his inside, a length back to Le Quartier four wide, then two lengths back to a wall of four that all needed to get going if they wanted to be part of this one.

Inside the final 150-yards and to the finish, Ned Isakoff was doing his best but just didn’t have anything left to hold off Compress as that one whizzed by in a blur to secure the lead and the win, going under the wire in front by a half length.  Le Quartier was another length back in third with Custer Of The West tiring late to be fourth.  Atomic Titty Twister pinched his way to the fifth spot, then Winning Barbarino in sixth Dj Fireraj in seven and Symboli Rudolf closed this one out.

Compress is a 3yo cold by Crush – Catahoula Rose by Speeding Home, and he was bred in Fla by his owner, Cherrytree Hill Farm.  As mentioned, he stays a perfect four-for-four, and takes his earnings to $299.280.  With back to back stakes wins, this one may be moving up the KYD list at a high rate of speed… Congrats to Compress and Cherrytree Hill Farm.

$2 Mutuel Prices:

Track: Fast      Time: :23²  :47   1:10²  1:41¹
$1 Exacta: 5 – 8 Paid 109.80      $1 Trifecta: 5 – 8 – 1 Paid 667.80
Scratched: Engine Failure, Pentagon

Categories: Grade II