Study Guide: 2024 Florida Derby
Mar 25, 2024
Hades shrugs off a challenge from odds-on champion Fierceness in the Holy Bull (Photo by Nicole Thomas/Coglianese Photos)
A total of 200 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points are on the line in Saturday's $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. The prestigious 1 1/8-mile contest has produced 25 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners through the years, including last year's Mage.
A field of 11 has turned out for the 2024 Florida Derby, led by champion Fierceness. Let's take a horse-by-horse look at the field:
Frankie's Empire
Start(s): 8
Wins: 4
Place: 0
Show: 2
Owner: Frank DeLuca
Breeder: Ralph Kinder and Erv Woolsey
Trainer: Michael Yates
Jockey: Miguel Vasquez
Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Swale S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $225,700
Sire: Classic Empire
Dam: Donna D
Color: Dark bay/brown
Frankie's Empire closed some ground to finish third by two lengths in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream four weeks ago, but it's worth noting he's 4-for-4 sprinting on dirt and 0-for-3 running long. Stretching out over 1 1/8 miles may push the limits of his stamina.
Hades
Hades wins the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park (Photo by Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: D. J. Stable and Robert Cotran
Breeder: Ocala Stud, Joseph M. O'Farrell III, David O'Farrell, et al.
Trainer: Joseph Orseno
Jockey: Paco Lopez
Top Speed Rating: (98) when winning an allowance at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $225,000
Sire: Awesome Slew
Dam: The Shady Lady
Color: Bay
Hades is undefeated in three starts, all at Gulfstream Park. Last time out, he capitalized on a slow pace to win the Holy Bull (G3) on the Road to the Kentucky Derby by two lengths over next-out Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Domestic Product. But Hades figures to face more pace pressure in the Florida Derby, which could compromise his chances.
Bail Us Out
Bail Us Out (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Hillcroft Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (85) when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $45,000
Sire: Lookin At Lucky
Dam: Joffe's Run
Color: Bay
Bail Us Out battled to victory in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight over Gulfstream's synthetic Tapeta track last month, but he'd previously finished fourth in his debut on dirt. There's no reason from a pedigree perspective to believe Bail Us Out can't handle dirt, but switching surfaces while stepping up sharply in class for the Florida Derby could be tricky.
Grand Mo the First
Grand Mo the First (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 3
Owner: Granpollo Stable
Breeder: John D. Gunther
Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr.
Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing third in the Swale S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $121,650
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Lilies So Fair
Color: Dark bay/brown
Never out of the trifecta in five starts on dirt, turf, and Tapeta, Grand Mo the First exits a close third-place finish (beaten only a neck) in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. However, the Florida Derby is a tougher spot, and Grand Mo the First's career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light.
Real Macho
Real Macho (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel L. Walters, and Dennis G. Smith
Breeder: Poe Racing Stable
Trainer: Rohan Crichton
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Top Speed Rating: (94) when winning a Gulfstream Park allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $88,320
Sire: Mucho Macho Man
Dam: Hedonism
Color: Chestnut
After winning a $75,000 allowance optional claimer racing one mile at Gulfstream, Real Macho made his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the Fountain of Youth, finishing fourth by 7 3/4 lengths. He came home 5 3/4 lengths behind third-place finisher Frankie's Empire and will need improvement to turn the tables on Saturday.
Le Dom Bro
Le Dom Bro wins at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 4
Show: 0
Owner: Vicente Stella Stables
Breeder: Teneri Farms
Trainer: Eniel Cordero
Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez
Top Speed Rating: (92) when finishing second in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $168,450
Sire: Mucho Macho Man
Dam: Valiant Emilia
Color: Bay
Le Dom Bro put up a good fight in the Fountain of Youth, racing in second position all the way around the track while beaten only 1 3/4 lengths by Remsen (G2) winner Dornoch at the finish line. Le Dom Bro is improving steadily, though his racing record to date suggests 1 1/8 miles might be a little farther than he wants to run.
Catalytic
Catalytic (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Tami Bobo, Julie Davies, and George G. Isaacs
Breeder: Fred W. Hertrich III
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing second in a Tampa Bay Downs allowance optional claimer.
Total Earnings: $30,825
Sire: Catalina Cruiser
Dam: One Show Only
Color: Bay
Catalytic closed a lot of ground to finish second in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Tampa Bay Downs last time out, but he's never run farther than 6 1/2 furlongs and has a pedigree that's geared a bit more toward speed than stamina. Stepping up in both class and distance could be challenging.
Seminole Chief
Seminole Chief (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 5
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Brad Grady and David Grund
Breeder: Brad Grady and Misty Grady
Trainer: Jack Sisterson
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning the FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S. at Gulfstream Park
Total Earnings: $254,435
Sire: Girvin
Dam: Secret Song
Color: Gray/roan
Seminole Chief has won three of his five starts, including the FTBOA Florida Sire In Reality S. racing 1 1/16-miles against Florida-breds at Gulfstream last year. But he struggled in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut, finishing last over a muddy track in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, so stepping up against Grade 1 company in the Florida Derby is a question mark.
Conquest Warrior
Conquest Warrior (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Courtlandt Farms
Breeder: Betz/B&K Canetti/J. Betz/CoCoEquine/D. J. Stables
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Top Speed Rating: (88) when breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $96,000
Sire: City of Light
Dam: Tea Time
Color: Bay
Conquest Warrior was much the best in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park on March 1, sweeping from three lengths off the pace to dominate by five lengths. But he'll need to improve upon his career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge against tougher foes in the Florida Derby.
Fierceness
Breeders' Cup champion Fierceness is favored to rebound in the Florida Derby (Photo by Horsephotos.com)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Repole Stable
Breeder: Repole Stable
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Top Speed Rating: (112) when winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $1,127,250
Sire: City of Light
Dam: Nonna Bella
Color: Bay
Reigning champion two-year-old male Fierceness has shown flashes of brilliance and threw down a massive 112 Brisnet Speed rating when winning the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) by 6 1/4 lengths. He struggled in his 2024 debut, finishing third behind Hades in the Holy Bull, but Fierceness endured a troubled start and wasn't helped by the slow pace. He's trained fast for the Florida Derby and may rebound in a big way for trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won this race a record seven times.
Iris's Dream
Iris's Dream (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Iris Cotto
Breeder: Iris Y. Cotto
Trainer: Cheryl Winebaugh
Jockey: Jorge Ruiz
Top Speed Rating: (84) when finishing second in a $50,000 maiden optional claimer at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $42,860
Sire: Jess's Dream
Dam: Smart Kiara
Color: Bay
Iris's Dream dominated a $50,000 maiden optional claimer over the Gulfstream Park turf course last month, winning the 1 1/16-mile contest by 7 1/4 lengths. But he's 0-for-2 on dirt and needs to improve upon his career-best 84 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge in the Florida Derby.
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