HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Offlee Wild won the first big test for Triple Crown hopefuls Saturday, rallying to edge Powerful Touch by a head in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Offlee Wild, ridden by Mark Guidry, ran 1 1-16 miles in 1:43 and paid $56.80, $21.60 and $8.80. Powerful Touch returned $11.60 and $6.60, and Bham paid $3.80 to show.

"Holy cow! We won the Holy Bull,'' trainer T.V. Smith said. "He'd never been that distance before today, but I never doubted that he'd go long. I'm confident he'll go a lot farther than he ran today. He's the best horse I've ever trained.''

Offlee Wild passed Bham near the eighth pole, and then Powerful Touch drew even with the leader. They were neck and neck the rest of the way, while Bham faded and finished three lengths back.

"He finished awfully game,'' Guidry said. "He broke sharp but the trainer told me not to rush him. He settled right away and was nice and relaxed. He had perfect position all the way.

"I got him turning for home and he dug in the rest of the way. I let him finish on his own.''

Offlee Wild is a Kentucky-bred son of Wild Again, owned by Azalea Stables, LLC. He raced only three times as a 2-year-old, finishing first and second. He earned $35,785 last year and started his 3-year-old season with a victory worth $60,000.

The $100,000 Grade 3 race also was a prep for the Fountain of Youth Stakes on Feb. 15 and the Florida Derby on March 15. Supervisor.