Florida Derby

Several horses clustered near the bottom of the "Road to the GI Kentucky Derby" are eligible for the race based on points, but their connections have not committed to the Derby. So this list differs slightly from the official qualifying rankings with respect to a few horses who are currently outside the top 20 points leaders and looking to get in. 1) COMMANDMENT (c, Into Mischief--Sippican Harbor, by Orb). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Lee Pokoik (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. Sales history: $485,000 RNA Wlg '23 FTKNOV; $475,000 RNA Ylg '24 FTSAUG; $500,000...

OGMA Investments LLC, JR Ranch and High Step Racing LLC's The Puma (Essential Quality) tuned up for a scheduled start in the May 2 GI Kentucky Derby Saturday morning at Gulfstream Park during a maintenance-style half-mile breeze. "It was getting him back into his routine two weeks after a race. It was pretty easy. Maybe the exercise rider got a little too comfortable, but next week is when he'll have his important work," trainer Gustavo Delgado's son and assistant Gustavo Delgado Jr. said. "We're planning to do that Friday or...

Seven years ago, New River Equine signed the seven-figure ticket on a yearling filly by Medaglia d'Oro at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale. That combination, revealed to be trainer Ben Colebrook and owner/breeder Michael Ball, went to a final bid of $1,100,000 that afternoon and, while that filly never made the track herself, her son has picked up the mantle as 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) lines up in Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby. "The mare was a really nice-looking, well-bred filly that we ended up...

This coming weekend's nine-furlong stakes at Oaklawn and Gulfstream have the potential to usher in a major shake-up within the rankings, with seven of the Top 12 listed below entered in either the GI Arkansas Derby or the GI Curlin Florida Derby. 1) PALADIN (c, Gun Runner--Secret Sigh, by Tapit) O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 3-3-0-0, $848,250. Last start: WON...

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution), the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth runner-up last month in his second start, was named the narrow 2-1 morning-line favorite and will break from post 2 over eight rivals for next Saturday's $1-million GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), the Fountain of Youth winner trained by Brad Cox, is second on the morning line at 5-2 from post 4. Like Commandment, Centennial Farms entry Nearly (Not This Time) takes a three-race win streak into the...

The catalogue for the inaugural Inglis Digital USA GI Curlin Florida Derby Sale is now online, offering buyers the chance to participate on the Mar. 28 marquee card of Gulfstream Park's Championship Meet. Bidding will be open through Mar. 23, with the first lot closing at 3 p.m. ET. Sellers with horses entered on the Florida Derby day card will be able to supplement them into the auction for full or percentage sales. Among the entries in the Curlin Florida Derby Sale is Lightning Tones (Tonalist), who is being pointed...

We edge inside the two-month mark to the GI Kentucky Derby with a well-bunched Top 12 hurtling toward more lucrative qualifying points races at longer distances. 1) PALADIN (c, Gun Runner--Secret Sigh, by Tapit) O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime record: MGSW, 3-3-0-0, $848,250. Last start: WON Feb. 14 GII Risen Star Stakes. The 3-for-3 Paladin has racked up two wins in nine-furlong...

Inglis Digital USA will partner with 1/ST to create a unique opportunity to get in the action ahead of Gulfstream Park's signature Kentucky Derby prep by debuting the Curlin Florida Derby Sale, it was announced Thursday. The online auction will take a focus on South Florida ahead of the GI Curlin Florida Derby, giving racehorse owners an opportunity to gain liquidity by offering their horses at a time when they are most coveted. For buyers, the sale offers immediate access to one of the biggest days of racing on the...

Lea Farms' Thunder Chuck (Good Magic) will make his first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs when he goes postward in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream Park Saturday. Trainer Jorge Delgado said he is hoping the race is a first step towards a possible trip on the Triple Crown trail for the chestnut gelding. "We're trying to see how far we can get with him. Hopefully, this will be a step to the graded stakes on the route to the Derby," Delgado said. "The horse has been good...

TAPPAN STREET, last seen on the track winning the GI Curlin Florida Derby in March, missed quite an eventful summer. Take for instance the horse he defeated that day in Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who never lost again this season and looks to be a strong candidate for Horse of the Year. Had a condylar fracture in his right front leg not knocked him off the Road to the Kentucky Derby, perhaps Tappan Street would have had more to say in the big 3-year-old races this season. As it stands, the...

7th-GP, $58k, OC 62k/C, 3yo/up, 1m, 3:30 p.m. ET WinStar Farm, CHC, Inc. and Cold Press Racing's Tappan Street (Into Mischief) will make his highly anticipated return facing six rivals in an optional claimer at Gulfstream Park Friday. He is the 4-5 program favorite. Last seen defeating leading Horse of the Year candidate and GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 29, Tappan Street was forced to miss the Kentucky Derby after suffering a condylar fracture in his right front leg. "We've been...

Tappan Street (Into Mischief) will make his highly anticipated return in an allowance optional claimer going a mile at Gulfstream Park Friday. He is being aimed at the $3-million GI Pegasus World Cup Jan. 24. Last seen defeating leading Horse of the Year candidate and GI Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 29, the $1-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling was forced to miss the Derby after suffering a condylar fracture in his right front leg. Dr. Larry Bramlage performed surgery on the WinStar Farm,...