Posts Tagged ‘florida derby’

« Older Entries

Zito wins Florida Derby

Saturday, March 20th, 2010
Gulfstream Park

Nick Zito sends two to take home the title

Nick Zito has done it. He’s the one who has clouded the Kentucky Derby picture.

Today’s race was picture perfect as the track played fair all day. The thing that kept us on Miners Reserve was Johnny V’s. win stalking the lead going a mile and an eigth. It was picture perfect from the beginning and we thought that Desormeaux was going to go up in there but decided to teach the horse something about rating.

We understand but we don’t like the strategy because we bet our money.

But they played it right and one thing is for sure — Rule is out at the Derby distance and he can only hurt Pletchers’ other fingers.

Eskendereya looks pretty good at this point. But there’s still plenty of time to think about a possible Kentucky Derby future wager in Pool 3 to hedge our Pool 2 bet. The final running time of the Florida Derby 1:49:19 and :26′s at the end.

Come to think of it maybe the picture isn’t so cloudy after all.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Gulfstream Park, Kentucky Derby | No Comments »

Florida Derby Selections

Friday, March 19th, 2010

Race of the Day — March 20, 2010

Florida Derby
G1 Purse $750K
1 mile 1/8
Conventional Dirt Track

Sunny tomorrow. High temperature 77.

#1 Soaring Empire — Gambolati can condition a champion and this one is from Flying Passage. His sire won this race in 2003 but was runner up to Funny Cide in the Derby that year.

#2 Lentenor — This one hails from the Matz barn as the full brother to Barbaro who won this race before winning the Derby in 2006. Goes conventional for the first time in his career but appears to be Barbaro’s brother from another mother.

#3 Pulsion — Good to see Biancone winning races in Florida.

#4 Pleasant Prince — Exits FOY when finishing a dismal fourth at long odds. Leparoux rode this horse in his maiden win at Churchill — the running line reads “angled out, closed fast” and Julien hasn’t given up.

#5 Game on Dude — Awesome Again will probably throw a Kentucky Derby winner real soon. This one broke in the air going a mile last time and still beat eight others impressively. WOW!

#6 First Dude – Two dudes in one race and this looks like a desperation run as Romans summons Dominguez from NY. Should lead.

#7 Rule – the luke warm favorite at 5 to 2 and a look at the others entered in here tells us this is the weakest of Pletcher’s hopefuls which makes this a weak Florida Derby.

#8 Ice Box — Another who exits the Fountain of Youth and runs here in the absense of Eskendereya. Beaten by Rule but has a win at the distance.

#9 Miner’s Reserve — Loved this one’s win last month to earn the same number of Beyer points as Radiohead. Can’t imagine Zito wheeling him right back in here after only three weeks rest but Desormeaux knows how to win this even with Zito’s dismal stakes record. WOW!

#10 Best Actor — Son of Rock Hard Ten has his work cut out for him in here.

#11 Radiohead — Dutrow will have no choice but to send to get over several positions towards the rail. There are several who should go inside of him but on Rule probably will. Should control the speed from the outside.

The selections: 9 – 11 – 5 – 8

Clear skies expected for Hallandale, Fl today.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Gulfstream Park, Kentucky Derby, Race of the Day | 2 Comments »

All eyes on Dunkirk in Florida Derby

Friday, March 27th, 2009

There’s nine entered for tomorrow’s Florida Derby as Dunkirk faces off with Quality Road and Theregoesjojo in an attempt to earn enough money to qualify for the starting line-up in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Dunkirk, who didn’t race at two, will need to win tomorrow’s race to gain the lion’s share of $450,000 and virtually guarantee him a spot on the first Saturday in May.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, who has entered Europe to aid Dunkirk in his quest, is still looking for his first Kentucky Derby winner.

With only $43K in earning, Dunkirk appears to be facing exclusion but don’t count on it. His two races at Gulfstream were spectacular and this son of Unbridled’s Song looks like he can run all day.

Lookout!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Gulfstream Park, Kentucky Derby | No Comments »

The Florida Derby is this weeks big race

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

As the first Saturday in May approaches the race is tightening for this years best three year olds trying to get into the Kentucky Derby.

The biggest race of the week is the $750,000 Florida Derby. A Grade I
event for Three Year Olds going One Mile And One Eighth.

Over the past few years we’ve seen the Kentucky Derby winner prep in the Florida Derby, including last years winner, Big Brown, who was impressive in winning from the 12 hole.

This years contestants appear to be strong once again as Dunkirk and Quality Road are set to face off in what should be a great race.

We’ll handicap the race and bring you the top selections when the Daily Racing Form past performances are published.

In the news, trainer John Ward announced today that Beethoven will not compete in the Florida Derby as planned and will be pointed to the summer races. Beethoven had won the Kentucky Jockey Club stakes at Churchill last year as a two year old. The purse money for the KJC was reduced so that Beethoven’s total graded money earned probably wouldn’t be enough to get into the Kentucky Derby without a strong placing in the Florida Derby. Ward commented that ‘it’s ironic that a race held in England would guarantee a spot in the Kentucky Derby but Beethoven, who had won the KJC, might not get in.’

Nevertheless, Beethoven developed a slight tendon injury which sidelines him until the summer.

Stay tuned for the picks later in the week.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Gulfstream Park, Kentucky Derby | No Comments »

« Older Entries