Florida Won Steals Ontario Derby Show

Live Oak Plantation's Florida Won rallied from last and outkicked Canadian classic winner Coltimus Prime in the final sixteenth to win the Ontario Derby Stakes (Can-III)  Sept. 21 at Woodbine. 

 

The victory provides Gainesway sire Birdstone   a second graded stakes winner of the weekend following Thank You Marylou's triumph in the Dogwood Stakes (gr. II) Sept. 20 at Churchill Downs.

 

Ridden by Patrick Husbands for trainer Mark Casse, Florida Won rallied five wide into the stretch and scored by a convincing 1 1/2 lengths at 10-1 odds as he bridged a huge class leap from maiden winner to graded stakes winner.

 

Coltimus Prime outfinished fellow Canadian classic winner Ami's Holiday by a half-length for second in the seven-horse field. The Ontario Derby was billed as a faceoff between the two, but Florida Won stole their showdown.

 

Lunar Rover jumped out to lead early with Coltimus Prime tracking from second never more than a length back and in company with Picozza and Squeeze the King. Husbands settled Florida Won into easy tempo in seventh, in behind favorite Ami's Holiday in sixth, through the opening half mile in :49.56. He advanced to the home turn where Husbands angled him five wide to launch a strong bid. 

 

With pacesetter Lunar Rover fading out of contention, Florida Won was rolling on the outside and Coltimus Prime asserted himself as both moved for the lead in the final furlong. Florida Won saw off that opponent and drove clear to get the win.

 

Final time was 1:50.80 for 1 1/8 miles on the all-weather main track.

 

A fairly consistent turf runner, Florida Won has finished out of the top three just once in six starts this season, that being his previous outing when he was fifth in the listed Toronto Cup on grass July 20 at Woodbine. 

 

Entering the Ontario Derby, Husbands was expecting a big effort from Florida Won, who was making his first start on the Woodbine main track.

 

"I breezed him last week (on the Polytrack) and he breezed like a winner," Husbands said. "Today, I rode him with confidence. I wasn't worried about the horses in front of him, I knew what type of horse I was sitting on...I waited until Luis (Contreras, Ami's Holiday) went and I had plenty of horse."

 

Florida Won paid $22.30, $9.10, and $3.40 while Coltimus Prime, winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes, returned $4.20 and $2.80. Ami's Holiday, who took the Breeders Stakes in his previous start, paid $2.20 to show.

 

Squeeze the King was fourth, followed by Jose Sea View, Lunar Rover, and Picozza to complete the order of finish.

 

Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Kentucky-bred Florida Won is out of the winning Grand Slam mare Grand Portege, a half sister to five stakes winners, including 2011 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Shackleford   and 2007 Alabama Stakes (gr. I) winner Lady Joanne. Second dam Oatsee was 2011 Broodmare of the Year.

 

Live Oak Plantation snapped up Florida Won from Gainesway, agent, for $385,000 at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale. He has bankrolled $147,608 thus far in his career.