Greatest Honour Among Florida Derby Workers

After capturing the first two Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races at Gulfstream Park this year, Courtlandt Farms' Greatest Honour will attempt to add the third and final prep, the March 27 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa. The Tapit  colt tuned up for the Florida Derby with a half-mile breeze at Payson Park Training Center March 21, pleasing Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

"He's not a good work horse, but I thought this was a lot like his work before the Fountain of Youth (G2), maybe better," McGaughey said.

Greatest Honour was timed in :50 2/5 Sunday.

"I liked the way he worked. The other day, he went off a little quicker than I wanted," McGaughey said. "I impressed upon (the rider) to just let him ease away from the pole and finish up strong, which he did. I got the last quarter in :13 and change."

Greatest Honour broke his maiden at Gulfstream Dec. 26, took the Jan. 30 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), and added the Feb. 27 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes—all at 1 1/16 miles. He'll stretch to 1 1/8 miles in the Florida Derby.

Also at Payson Park Sunday, Michael Shanley's Nova Rags breezed three furlongs in :38 3/5 for the Florida Derby.

"His works have been very steady," Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. "He's worked well enough here at Payson Park and I think he's plenty fit."

Nova Rags, a winner of the Jan. 16 seven-furlong Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, last out finished second to stablemate Candy Man Rocket in the Feb. 6 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), also at Tampa.

At Gulfstream Sunday, Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Collaborate breezed five furlongs in 1:01.18 while working in company with Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained stablemate and Feb. 20 Royal Delta Stakes (G3) winner Queen Nekia, who was timed in 1:02.49. Collaborate will make the jump to grade 1 company in the Florida Derby after breaking his maiden Feb. 27 at Gulfstream.

"The first eighth he went off a little slow in :14 and change and picked it up after that. He galloped out well for the next eighth after the wire," Joseph said. "Overall, I'm very pleased with the work. I'm happy with him."

Spielberg breezed five furlongs Sunday at Santa Anita Park in preparation for the Florida Derby. Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the Union Rags  colt was timed in :59 2/5, the second fastest clocking of 81 workouts recorded at the distance.

"He went well. He's very workmanlike and he's steady," Baffert said. "He's doing well."

Spielberg was a multiple grade 1-placed juvenile last year before breaking through in the Dec. 19 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course. He bumped at the start of the Jan. 30 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita before finsihing fourth, then ran second to undefeated juvenile male champion Essential Quality in the Feb. 27 Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

Javier Castellano will have the mount on Spielberg, who is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm, and Robert Masterson.