McLaughlin Confident Heading into FL Derby

Conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin is feeling confident in his chances Saturday when he will saddle Cairo Prince (Pioneerof the Nile) as the likely favorite in the 
GI Florida Derby at Gulfstream. 
    “He’s doing great,” McLaughlin commented. “We have worked every Saturday. We don’t want any changes. He is a very special horse, doing great, and everything continues to be great with him.” 
    The GII Nashua S. hero was last seen scoring a commanding victory in the GII Holy Bull S. in Hallandale Jan. 25. McLaughlin decided to skip the next prep race at that venue, the GII Fountain of Youth S., and train up to the Florida Derby.
    “He did win impressively [in the Holy Bull] and he gave most horses six pounds that day,” McLaughlin said. “If we ran back in the Fountain of Youth, he would have been giving most of them six pounds again. We decided to wait for the Floriday Derby, where everyone carries 123 pounds. We have all year. It’s not just the first Saturday in May. We are pointing to that obviously, but there is a lot of racing after that so it is hard to run every four weeks.” 
    Though Cairo Prince is currently one of the GI Kentucky Derby favorites in the future wager pools, he only has 14 Derby qualifying points. A poor performance or troubled trip on Saturday could cost one of the top sophomores his spot in the starting gate come the first Saturday in May. 
    “I don’t know how they came up with the [GI] Breeders’ Cup [Juvenile] winner, [GII] Remsen [S.] winner and Holy Bull winner only getting 10 points, but if you finish fourth in the big races this weekend you get 10 points,” McLaughlin said. “I don’t agree with what they have come up with right now and I am happy to speak loudly about it. Hopefully we finish in the top four and that won’t be an issue.” 
    McLaughlin’s only concern heading into Saturday is the weather, as there is rain in the forecast. 
    “He is ready to perform a top race, an A+ race,” the conditioner remarked. “We are a little concerned about the track weather wise. He has never run on a really wet track, but we think he can handle a wet track. He is ready to go.”