Nine Hopefuls in Florida Derby
By Mike Mills, ThoroFan Member
Florida
Derby winners over the past ten years that have gone on to win the Kentucky
Derby include, Big Brown, Orb, Nyquist, and Always Dreaming. Nine runners will line up for Saturday's running
of the Grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in hopes of following in those
big footsteps.
1)
Strike Power, ML 4-1
Brings
speed to the party from the rail. Not so
sure he wants to go this far being a son of Speightstown.
Lauren King
2)
Millionaire Runner, ML 50-1
He is
among the most experienced runners in the field with ten starts. Connections have been pointing this guy too
high since his only lifetime win in a $35,000 Maiden Claimer. Now he is pointed even higher. Doesn’t belong.
3) Tip
Sheet, ML 30-1
With a
name like this those of us who write these things should be all over him, but
than again let’s not get too desperate.
Another with ten lifetime starts who has been firing to high and goes
even higher. Pass.
4)
Promises Fulfilled, ML 3-1
Has
most likely already earned a trip to the Derby.
He has done little wrong thus far winning three of four lifetime
starts. Winner of the Fountain of Youth
in his last while having things pretty much his own way throughout. Romans says he will send. Thinking this guy is going to have a bit more
company up front this go around and will need a huge effort to get the win.
Photo: Gulfstream Park
5)
Storm Runner, ML 20-1
Romans’
second entrant made his stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth, finishing a
tough trip seventh. Looking for this
fellow to present a better accounting of himself here hitting the board at a
good price.
6)
Catholic Boy, ML 7-2
This
will be his second of the layoff for former Pletcher understudy Jonathan Thomas. May have not been fully cranked up for his
return in the Sam Davis last month.
Picks up Irad and projects to fit the flow of the race. Looking for big effort out of this guy.
7)
Hofburg, ML 20-1
Son of
leading sire Tapit shows up here for Bill Mott with just two starts winning his
maiden earlier in the month over the track.
Should like the distance but the step up from maidens to the Grade I
Florida Derby is huge. Might find useful
underneath on the exotic tickets.
8) Audible,
ML 9-5
Pletcher’s
New York bred has done little wrong in his four-race career, winning his last
three, and finishing third in his debut back in September. Picks up Johnny Velazquez, winner of last
year’s race and three other previous Florida Derby’s. Posted a nice winning running time in the
Holy Bull over the strip. One concern is
the post.
9) Mississippi,
ML 12-1
Makes
his stakes debut following two good runner-up finishes in the allowance ranks
over the past two months at Gulfstream.
Projects to like the distance and may show a keener interest in the
front with the additional of blinkers for the first time.
The Pick
Looking
for Catholic Boy to show up Saturday
a bit tighter then he was for his return to racing last month in the Sam Davis
at Tampa. Think he trips out the best in
here laying off the speed and getting the first jump heading for home. The student gets the best of the teacher with
Audible second.
The Play $92
$30
winner, $30 place #6, $60
$2 tri
6/1-5-8/1-4-5-8-9, $24
$2 tri
8/6/1-4-5-9, $8
Have a
Day
Mike
Mills
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