For years the Florida Derby has been one of the key Kentucky Derby prep races, often times sending out a few of the favorites in the Run for the Roses.
This year, the race looks like a bit of a disappointment to me. Don’t get me wrong, there are a couple of quality runners set to go to post Saturday at 3:42 p.m. at Gulfstream Park, it’s just that there is less depth this year, with some entries having no right being in the race.
Let’s take a run through the race in post-position order.
- Neoquos (Saffie Joseph trainer, Edgar Zayas jockey) set the pace through the first half of the Fountain of Youth, then was passed at the top of the lane and ended up third at 15/1. He had a bullet work for this one and given that he has been on or right off the pace, I would expect him to be a pace factor here.
- Cool Intentions (Jorde Delgado, Javier Castellano) has been off since January 4 when he was fifth in the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream. He never fired that day, now comes back from a break that saw some impressive works. Will look to stalk the pace.
- Smoken Boy (Cheryl Winebaugh, Edgar Perez, ) is an interesting one in that he comes into the race off of a claim for $75,000. Two starts back he was eighth in the Sam Davis, beaten 13 lengths.
- Disruptor (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz) has two starts to his name, with the last being a nine-length win where he drew off from the field. Given the connections this one must be given consideration but at this point he must finish in the top two to make the Derby field. Will have speed.
- Indecisiveness (Ruben Sierra, Jorge Ruiz) has nothing in his last two races, both against optional claiming company at 94/1 and 53/1. Can’t be quite sure when they entered here.
- Jimmy’s Dailys (Brian Lynch, Joel Rosario) is coming off a second in a $75,000 optional claimer where he finished a length up on Indecisiveness. Another head scratcher to me.
- Enterdadragon (Jose D’Angelo, Dylan Davis) has the most starts with nine, but only has a pair of wins. He has plenty of stakes experience but the two wins have come in a straight maiden and an optional claimer. Another mediocre starter here.
- Madaket Road (Bob Baffert, Tyler Gaffalione) is one of the serious contenders and he will be running his third straight start at a different track. In fact, he’s crosed the country as two back he was at Santa Anita where he was third in the Robert Lewis. Next up was a second in the Rebel in Arkansas and now makes the trip to Florida. He will look to be right off the lead or perhaps set the pace like he did in the Rebel where he led for the first half before getting passed.
- Tappan Street (Brad Cox, Luis Saez) is lightly raced but in his two starts he’s shown talent. He debuted by beating a straight maiden field in the end of December, then came back February 1 by running second in the Holy Bull as the favorite. Came from off the pace in both races.
- Sovereignty (William Mott, Junior Alvarado) has given all the signs that he is the one to beat here. He came from a lengthy break to win the Fountain of Youth off with a big close to get up and win by a head. Now in the second start off the break he should be stronger. He has the best last race Beyer.