Unbeaten Materiality Secures Florida Derby

In his graded stakes debut, Alto Racing's Materiality proved up to the challenge as he outlasted grade II winner Upstart in an extended duel and scored a 1 1/2-length victory in the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) Saturday, March 28 at Gulfstream Park .

A son of dual classic winner Afleet Alex  , Materiality picked up his third victory in as many starts in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile race. Trained by Todd Pletcher, who earned his second straight Florida Derby win and third overall, Materiality won a maiden special weight event in January at Gulfstream before taking the Islamorada Handicap March 5 at the South Florida track.

On Saturday in the biggest start of his young career, Materiality and Holy Bull Stakes (gr. II) winner Upstart drew off from the other seven 3-year-olds in the far turn and battled into deep stretch, thrilling the crowd. Materiality finally separated himself from Upstart near the sixteenth pole. 

Racing inside of Upstart, Materiality drifted out in the stretch but there was no inquiry or objection after the race. In his previous start, Ralph Evans' Upstart finished first in the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. I) but was disqualified for stretch interference and placed behind Itsaknockout.

"We got very close (to Upstart), that's for sure. We got out a little bit further than I thought I did," Velazquez said. "I had my head down, looking over to make sure I didn't bump him. There was a little brushing, maybe, but there was no contact. I was very conscious to pull back in and you can see the two horses spread apart."

Upstart's trainer Rick Violette Jr. didn't have a problem with the stretch run but wondered if things would have been different if the son of Flatter   hadn't started from the outside in the field of nine.

"I don't want to hear from the guys that say, 'Don't worry about the nine hole,' because it made all the difference," Violette said. "If we had (Materiality) on our hip the whole way, maybe the result would have been different. (Materiality) beat us fair and square. He is obviously a very nice horse, he comes off a really fast race and didn't regress."

Materiality completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.3 on a fast track. Ami's Flatter finished well behind the top two finishers—12 1/2 lengths behind Upstart—to secure his first grade I placing while Itsaknockout followed in fourth.

In the Islamorada, Materiality defeated stablemate Stanford, who on Saturday ran second in the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots after leading that race into the stretch. Pletcher noted the 22-day turnaround from the Islamorada was a concern.

"So we monitored how he was training; he looked great. He's a big, strong colt and he holds his weight really well. He's got a big appetite," Pletcher said. "He put forth a really good breeze a week ago so we felt like he was showing us all of the right signs.

"Yet you still worry about those situations when you get to the eighth pole. Watching Stanford finish a very good second in the Louisiana Derby about a half-hour before gives you a little more confidence, but you're still concerned about the short turnaround."

Materiality returned $5.60 to win, $3 to place, and $2.40 to show. Upstart, who was sent off as the even-money favorite, returned $2.60 and $2.20, while Ami's Flatter paid $3 to show.

Pletcher won the Florida Derby with Constitution last year and Scat Daddy   in 2007. Materiality, a bay colt, was guided to victory by John Velazquez, who also earned his third Florida Derby win after taking the key prep race aboard Orb   in 2013 and Quality Road   in 2009.

The Florida Derby is a 100-40-20-10 Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, ensuring the winner enough points to qualify for a starting spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Upstart also has secured enough points.

Bred in Kentucky by John Gunther, Materiality is out of the Langfuhr mare Wildwood Flower, who also has produced grade II winner My Miss Sophia.

Materiality sold twice before his racing career, most recently being landed for $400,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-year-olds in training sale where he was purchased by Steven Young, agent, for Gil Moutray's Alto Racing from the consignment of De Meric Sales, agent. As a yearling, Materiality was purchased for $260,000 by Venture Six from Gunther's Glennwood Farm consignment at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale.