2 Guys and a Crown: Florida Derby
Description:
Bram Weinstein and Joe Kristufek return in 2016 to take fans step by step down the Triple Crown trail. The focus for this edition is Saturday’s Grade 1, $1-million Florida Derby, in which the winner earns 100 points toward a potential berth in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.
Run over 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park, the Florida Derby is a 100-40-20-10 points race on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
This Florida Derby (Grade 1) hosts the consensus No. 1 and No. 2 Kentucky Derby contenders in Fountain of Youth winner Mohaymen and three-time grade one victor Nyquist. Both horses enter the starting gate undefeated. If Nyquist wins, he will earn a $1 million bonus for being a graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Florida Sale last March.
Four of the last 10 Florida Derby winners exited the Fountain of Youth, while four others ran in a Gulfstream allowance in their race prior. Three of last 10 Florida Derby winners went on to win the Kentucky Derby in Orb (2013), Big Brown (2008) and Barbaro (2006), and four since 2001 (Monarchos) have been covered in roses.
Todd Pletcher has won the last two editions of the Florida Derby (Materiality in 2015 and Constitution in 2014) and three since 2007 when Scat Daddy won, but he is not represented this year. Meanwhile jockey John Velazquez has won three of the last seven (Materiality, Orb and Quality Road in 2009), but he is left without a mount in the race on Saturday.
In other Triple Crown prep action, the $500,000 Spiral (Grade 3) at Turfway Park, run on Polytrack, is a 50-20-10-5 Kentucky Derby points race. The Spiral produced 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom but for the last three years it has been inconsequential with Dubai Sky, Wee Miss Artie and Black Onyx insignificant winners.
Joe's Florida Derby Picks
#4 Nyquist
#9 Mohaymen
#7 Takeittotheedge
#2 Fellowship
Joe's Florida Derby Wagers
$15 trifecta: 4 with 9 with 2-7
Bram's Florida Derby Picks
#4 Nyquist
#9 Mohaymen
#2 Fellowship
Throwing a dart for fourth
Bram's Florida Derby Wager
$30 to win on 4
Joe’s Kentucky Derby Top 20
1. Mohaymen 2. Nyquist 3. Danzing Candy 4. Mor Spirit 5. Destin 6. Mo Tom 7. Exaggerator 8. Cupid 9. Gun Runner10. Lani11. Zulu12. Outwork13. Whitmore14. Suddenbreakingnews15. Creator16. Tom's Ready17. Star Hill18. Shagaf19. Cherry Wine20. Dazzling Gem
$1-million Xpressbet Florida DerbyApril 2, Race 14, Gulfstream Park, 6:48 p.m. ET1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner(s)
Odds
1
Sawyers Mickey
Scott Spieth
Peter Walder
Loooch Racing Stables
30-1
2
Fellowship
Jose Lezcano
Stanley Gold
Jacks or Better Farm
15-1
3
Majesto
Javier Castellano
Gustavo Delgado
Grupo 7C Racing Stable
20-1
4
Nyquist
Mario Gutierrez
Doug O'Neill
Reddam Racing
6-5
5
Copingaway
Miguel A. Vasquez
Jaime Mejia
Thoroughbred Champions Training Center
50-1
6
Chovanes
Edgard Zayas
Jorge Navarro
Gelfenstein Farm
30-1
7
Takeittotheedge
Tyler Gaffalione
Dale Romans
Bakster Farm
20-1
8
Fashionable Freddy
Nik Juarez
Nick Zito
My Meadowview Farm
30-1
9
Mohaymen
Junior Alvarado
Kiaran McLaughlin
Shadwell Stable
1-1
10
Isofass
Julien Leparoux
Francis Abbott, III
DB DOJO
30-1