Peacock Racing Stables' three-time graded stakes winner Gunnevera (Dialed In) drew the widest slot in a field of 11 as the 9-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby when posts were determined Wednesday morning at Gulfstream Park. The chestnut's stiffest competition is likely to come from the barn of Gulfstream's 13-time leading trainer Todd Pletcher, whose 3-1 second choice Battalion Runner (Unbridled's Song) drew stall nine and 4-1 third choice Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) landed post four. The former is expected to scratch in favor of a later GI Kentucky Derby prep race. Despite the sometimes unfavorable wide draw traveling two turns at Gulfstream, Gunnevera's trainer Antonio Sano expressed confidence in his colt, who recently captured the Mar. 4 GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth S. by 5 3/4 lengths.
“No problem,” Sano said of the post position. “My horse goes to the back. Three Rules has speed [and he is to our] inside.”
Three Rules (Gone Astray), who was assigned post 10, and rail-drawn State of Honor (To Honor and Serve) are both likely to contribute to an expected lively pace scenario Saturday. The pair was installed as the 8-1 co-fourth choices on the morning line. Should a speed duel develop, N and K Racing's Impressive Edge (Harlan's Holiday) could find himself in an ideal spot, breaking from post eight as a 12-1 shot on the morning line.
“Both of his wins here were very impressive,” trainer Dale Romans said of Impressive Edge. “The question is the distance. He acts like he'll do it, and he's done everything right…I'd like to sit third or fourth and just get into a rhythm and see if we can get him to get the distance.”
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