Gulfstream Park is trying something new.

The Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) was formerly run over a one turn mile early in the year. Now one of the last preps for the Kentucky Derby, the race distance was lengthened to 1 3/16 miles, the distance of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I), the second leg of the Triple Crown. The old adage is that none of the horses entered in the Derby have ever run past 1 1/8 miles, but if Hey Byrn, the big favorite in this race, happens to sweep the winner's share of the $150,000, he will not have to worry about that.

Only seven horses will go postward in the race, and Hey Byrn is the only one with the credentials and the possibility of getting into the Derby. After losing first out to Smooth Air, who is already in the Derby field, Hey Byrn broke his maiden and finished well in two small stakes races before becoming one of the most exciting horses of this year's Gulfstream meet. He rushed through a one mile allowance by 14 1/2 lengths, then thumped a 1 1/8 mile allowance by six. He was bumped at the start in the Florida Derby (gr. I) but ran well enough to be fourth in a large field. Hey Byrn is a son of Put It Back, and really should win this race.

Of the others, Dream Maestro is coming off a win in a 1 1/8 mile Gulfstream maiden race. Web Gem, a Nick Zito-trainee owned by Richard Brand, finished second behind War Pass in an allowance race in February (and possibly only ran to make the race go), before being third in another allowance in March. He broke his maiden at Aqueduct in October. Nathan Ridge has three wins in ten starts, and Bipolar Express has two wins in eight starts. Chief Bear is still a maiden.