Champion Fierceness Florida Derby Morning-Line Favorite

Repole Stable's Fierceness , last year's juvenile male champion, was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 30 at Gulfstream Park.

Fierceness, who'll be ridden by John Velazquez, received the 10 post position in the 11-horse field of 3-year-olds during a draw held between the third and fourth races March 23 at Gulfstream.

Winner of the Nov. 3 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park by 6 1/4 lengths, the son of City of Light   finished a troubled third as the 1-5 favorite in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Feb. 3 in his lone start this season. Todd Pletcher is hoping for a smoother trip Saturday.

"His Breeders' Cup Juvenile was so impressive. He trained so well leading up to the Holy Bull, that I think expectations were just so high for him and I think people lose sight a little bit of exactly what went on in the race," Pletcher said. "He got sandwiched pretty hard leaving the gate and then Johnny had to use him quite a bit to get to the position we wanted. I think because our expectations were so high, we just thought he could overcome anything. I think it was a legitimate excuse. The horse has come back and breezed really well."

Pletcher will be seeking a record eighth Florida Derby victory and Velazquez will be looking for a record sixth win in the race.

Repole Stable and Pletcher also have entered Bail Us Out , a 15-1 choice starting from post position 3 under Irad Ortiz Jr. The son of Lookin At Lucky  won a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Feb. 3 in his only start of the year.

Courtlandt Farms' Conquest Warrior , also a son of City of Light and trained by Shug McGaughey, was made the second choice at 3-1. He'll start from post position 9 under Jose Ortiz.

D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran's Hades , who won the Holy Bull, is 7-2 from post position 2 with jockey Paco Lopez. The Joe Orseno-trained gelding by Awesome Slew   is undefeated in three starts.

Frank DeLuca's Frankie's Empire , who finished third in the March 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) after winning the Swale Stakes, will start from the inside post position with rider Miguel Angel Vasquez. The 12-1 son of Classic Empire  is trained by Michael Yates.

Emisael Jaramillo will ride Victor Barboza Jr.-trained Grand Mo the First , who lost by a neck while finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) March 9. The 15-1 son of Uncle Mo   will start from post position 4.

The Florida Derby field is rounded out by 20-1 Real Macho , trained by Rohan Crichton and ridden by Javier Castellano, in post position 5; 15-1 Le Dom Bro , trained by 20-year-old Eniel Cordero and ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, in post position 6; 20-1 Catalytic , trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. and ridden by Julien Leparoux, in post position 7; 30-1 Seminole Chief , trained by Jack Sisterson and ridden by Joel Rosario, in post position 8; and 30-1 Iris's Dream , trained by Cheryl Winebaugh and ridden by Jorge Ruiz, in post position 11.

The Florida Derby, which awards Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis, has produced 25 winners in the Run for the Roses.