Gouverneur Morris Set for Florida Derby

After weighing numerous stakes options throughout the winter, Gouverneur Morris is bound for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1).

The 3-year-old son of Constitution  worked five furlongs in 1:01.65 March 21 at Palm Beach Downs, and after the breeze Team Valor International's founder and CEO Barry Irwin said trainer Todd Pletcher targeted the March 28 stakes at Gulfstream Park as the best option

"Todd said he worked as well as he ever has and thinks we should take the opportunity that's before us, meaning the Florida Derby," said Irwin whose partnership owns Gouverneur Morris along with WinStar Farm. "He went five furlongs 1:01 and change today. Every time he works it's virtually the same thing. He goes off in about :13 and then comes home in :24. He worked with another horse (a maiden from Pletcher's barn) that couldn't keep up with him."

While all of the major late March-early April stakes for 3-year-olds had been mentioned as possibilities for Gouverneur Morris, the racing landscape has been turned upside-down in the past week by the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) being shifted by four months to Sept. 5, the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland was canceled, the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park was pushed back to May 2, and the April 4 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack is in limbo with racing in New York suspended due to the spread of the virus.

All of that made the Florida Derby an easy choice for a Florida-based runner who will receive his first major test at 3 while facing one of the division's brightest stars in grade 1 winner Tiz the Law next week.

"At this point we want to find out what we've got," Irwin said. "I think this horse will be better later in the year. Pedigree says one thing and he says another thing. I think he wants to run a little farther than his pedigree would suggest. He's not precocious even though he won his debut at Saratoga so easily. That was his natural speed and ability. I think he still needs to grow."

A debut winner by nine lengths in the mud Sept. 2 at Saratoga Race Course, Gouverneur Morris was second in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland in his only other race at 2. He made his lone 3-year-old start Feb. 14 with a 1 1/4-length score in a one-mile, 40-yard allowance optional claiming race at Tampa Bay Downs.

Gouverneur Morris was bred by Machmer Hall, Carrie and Craig Brogden, and James Miller in Kentucky. Out of Addison Run, a daughter of Unbridled's Song who has also produced the black-type placed Final Jeopardy, he was purchased by Team Valor for $600,000 from the Eddie Woods consignment at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

He originally went to Phoenix Thoroughbreds for $200,000 from the Select Sales consignment at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Irwin added that Team Valor's recent 3-year-old maiden winner Will Sing for Wine is stabled in New York with trainer Bill Mott and plans for him are uncertain due to the suspension of racing there.

Edward Potash also owns a share of the son of Will Take Charge .