Fierceness competes for points in the Florida Derby. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Road To Kentucky Derby Championship Series Features Three Major Prep Races Saturday: Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby, UAE Derby
Kentucky Derby Update/Edited
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Less than six weeks remain until the 150thrunning of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I) and Saturday’s trio of “Championship Series” races from around the world will have major implications on who’s in and who’s out of this year’s field.
At Gulfstream Park in South Florida, Repole Stable’s 2-year-old champion Fierceness will attempt to return to his brilliant form last season when he faces a competitive field of 10 rivals in the $1 million Florida Derby (GI). About one hour after the Florida Derby, WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’s Rebel Stakes (GII) winner Timberlake will be in search of big money and Grade I glory when he faces nine rivals at Oaklawn in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby.
The Road to the Kentucky Derby action begins early Saturday at 9:50 a.m. ET when Japanese star Forever Young (JPN) leads the field in the $1.5 million UAE Derby (GII), part of the Dubai World Cup night program at Meydan Racecourse.
The Florida Derby, which will go as Race 14 at 6:42 p.m. (all times Eastern), will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale towards a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 4. Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Florida Derby field features several of South Florida’s best 3-year-olds including Fierceness, Holy Bull (GII) winner Hades and up-and-coming colt Conquest Warrior.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Fierceness was brilliant when he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by 6 ¼ lengths at odds of 16-1. The son of City of Light made his 3-year-old debut eight weeks ago in the Holy Bull (GIII) where he finished a disappointing third to front-running Hades. Fierceness will break from post No. 10 of 11 with Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the saddle.
The aforementioned Hades will attempt to stamp his place in the starting gate for the Kentucky Derby in the Florida Derby. Owned by D J Stable and Robert Cotran and trained by Joe Orseno, Hades set slow early fractions in the Holy Bull and was able to kick clear late for a two-length victory. Like Fierceness, Hades, an undefeated Florida-bred son of Awesome Slew, has been off since the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull.
One of the new shooters on the Road to the Kentucky Derby is Courtlandt Farms’ recent allowance winner Conquest Warrior. Trained by 2013 Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Shug McGaughey, Conquest Warrior turned heads two starts ago when he was pinched badly at the start but still rallied for a half-length victory over next-out maiden special weight winner Antiquarian. McGaughey won the Florida Derby in 2013 with Orb en route to his victory in the Kentucky Derby.
Field for the Florida Derby
Frankie’s Empire and Iris’s Dream are not nominated to the Triple Crown but can become eligible with a $6,000 payment due by Monday.
Florida Derby Quotes
Eniel Cordero, trainer, Le Dom Bro: “We faced Dornoch in the Remsen at Aqueduct and we finished last, very far back but the horse wasn’t really fit for the race. We were trying. It was an experience but when he finished second in the Fountain of Youth, it was very emotional for me. … A lot of trainers have been training for years and they haven’t had an opportunity to go to the Kentucky Derby. If this horse breaks well in the Florida Derby, we may accomplish that. I’d be in shock.”
Jose Ortiz, jockey, Conquest Warrior: “He’s improved all winter. He had a lot go wrong when he broke his maiden, and he was able to overcome it all that day. In his last race he was very impressive and handled the longer distance just fine. He’s been working very well coming into the Florida Derby.”
Joe Orseno, trainer, Hades: “He has exceeded my expectations (in his training to the Florida Derby). Even with his last breeze going into the Florida Derby he did everything perfect. He just handles himself very professionally. He gets things easily where other horses struggle.”
Todd Pletcher, trainer, Fierceness: “Normally I’d be afraid of the outside post but Forte won from the 11 last year so you can overcome that. Everybody knows Gulfstream two-turn races are tricky and I think that’s why the start is so important, getting away cleanly. I think what happens in a lot of these two-turn races is the jockeys are so conscious of having to get to the first turn in good position that it can get a little rough leaving the gate sometimes. … The horse gives you a lot of confidence watching him breeze. It seems like he’s in really good form, so we’re expecting a good performance from him.”
Florida Derby Produced Most Kentucky Derby Winners
Saturday’s Florida Derby has historically been the most productive race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, producing 25 winners in the “Run for the Roses” including last year’s winner Mage.
The Florida Derby first served as a prep race for the Kentucky Derby winner in 1953 when Dark Star, who finished a disappointing 13th in the Florida Derby, was victorious on the first Saturday in May.
The other winners of the Kentucky Derby who exited the Florida Derby:
- Always Dreaming (2017)
- Nyquist (2016)
- Orb (2013)
- Big Brown (2008)*
- Barbaro (2006)
- Monarchos (2001)
- Thunder Gulch (1995)
- Go For Gin (1994)
- Strike the Gold (1991)
- Unbridled (1990)
- Swale (1984)
- Pleasant Colony (1981)*
- Spectacular Bid (1979)*
- Foolish Pleasure (1975)
- Cannonade (1974)
- Forward Pass (1968)*
- Kauai King (1966)*
- Northern Dancer (1964)*
- Carry Back (1961)*
- Venetian Way (1960)
- Tim Tam (1958)*
- Iron Liege (1957)
- Needles (1956)
* Also won the Preakness Stakes.
Free Brisnet.com Past Performances:
Florida Derby: http://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/FLDerby24.pdf
Rebel Winner Timberlake Attempts To Blaze Trail To Derby In $1.5 Million Arkansas Derby
WinStar Farm and Siena Farm’sRebel Stakes (Grade II) winner Timberlake will attempt to continue his path toward the Kentucky Derby when he faces nine rivals in Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (GI) at Oaklawn.
Run at 1 1/8 miles, the Arkansas Derby will award the top five runners qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale should they be eligible to compete in the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI). The Arkansas Derby will go as Race 12 at 7:47 p.m. ET.
Trained by Brad Cox, Timberlake made his 3-year-old debut on Feb. 24 when he defeated 11 competitors in the Rebel. The son of Into Mischief was highly regarded as a 2-year-old after dominating the Champagne (GI) and finishing second in the Hopeful Stakes (GI). Jockey Flavien Prat will be aboard Timberlake for the first time at morning line odds of 9-5.
Another Kentucky Derby hopeful entered in the Arkansas Derby is Southwest Stakes (GIII) winner Mystik Dan. The son of Goldencents received a brilliant ride by Brian Hernandez Jr. in the Southwest when he cut the corner and skimmed the rail for a widening eight-length score. Hernandez will be back aboard the Kenny McPeek trainee at odds of 5-2.
The 8-5 morning line favorite is Zedan Racing Stables’ San Vicente (GII) winner Muth. The former $2 million OBS March 2023 purchase is under the care of trainer Bob Baffert, who is suspended by Churchill Downs Incorporated from running at their tracks in 2024 and is ineligible to compete in the Kentucky Derby.
The Arkansas Derby Field
Will Take It is the lone horse in the Arkansas Derby not nominated to the Triple Crown. His connections can make him eligible for the three-race series by paying $6,000 fee due Monday.
Free Brisnet.com Past Performances:
Arkansas Derby: http://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ARDerby24.pdf
Arkansas Derby Quotes
Brad Cox, trainer, Timberlake: “I really like the timing of the Arkansas Derby to the Kentucky Derby. Obviously, he has the experience there now after winning the Rebel. I kind of thought the Rebel was the spot when we were getting started this winter. That worked out well and it leads nicely to the Arkansas Derby.”
Ron Moquett, trainer, Time for Truth: “We’re still trying to put it all together. He’s a very talented horse that we’re just trying to see where his maturation is. The other day we noticed, even though he won, when he made the front, he kind of waited on a horse for a second but then galloped out well. So, we’re trying to get him to do everything that he’s supposed to do to be more professional.”
Japan’s Forever Young Tries To Qualify For Kentucky Derby In UAE Derby
Undefeated Japanese-based colt Forever Young (JPN) will attempt to qualify for Kentucky Derby 150 as the headliner in Saturday’s $1.5 million UAE Derby (Grade II) at Meydan Racecourse.
The 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby will go as Race 5 on the Dubai World Cup program with a post time of 9:50 a.m. ET.
Trained by Yoshido Yahagi, Forever Young is undefeated in three starts with two victories in his home country and the third in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby (GIII) on Feb. 24. The talented colt is expected to be a heavy favorite and will break from the far outside post No. 11.
One of the American-based runners in the UAE Derby is New York-bred Pandagate. A New York-bred son of 2017 Dubai World Cup winner Arrogate, Pandagate recently won the Gander Stakes at Aqueduct by an impressive five lengths for trainer Christophe Clement.
The UAE Derby will award the top five finishers qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale. Southern Hemisphere-bred 3-year-olds are ineligible to accrue points and cannot compete in the Kentucky Derby.
Free Brisnet.com Past Performances:
UAE Derby: http://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/UAEDerby24.pdf
UAE Derby Quotes
Aidan O’Brien, trainer, Henry Adams: “Henry Adams is a lovely, big, uncomplicated horse. He’s a No Nay Never horse so he could be interesting on the dirt. We will be guided by how he goes there in Dubai as to what he does afterwards.”
Bhupat Seemar, trainer, Guns and Glory, Mendelssohn Bay: “Guns and Glory was getting terrible draws every time and finally got a good draw the last time. He’s a big of a playboy, he is a very high-class horse and with blinkers on him it should do the trick again. … Looking at Mendelssohn Bay, I think it was a very good decision to miss Super Saturday and come directly to the (UAE) Derby. He has filled out and he looks different with a nice coat on him. He has got plenty of stamina in his pedigree. We don’t know how good he is but we’ll find out on Saturday.”
