Tappan Street punches ticket to Louisville in Florida Derby; Five G wires Gulfstream Park Oaks

Mar 29, 2025 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Tappan Street wins the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

With only two previous starts to his credit, Tappan Street entered Saturday's $1.02 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park among the least experienced runners in the field of 10. But the son of Into Mischief performed like an old pro in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, getting the jump on 8-5 favorite Sovereignty and beating that foe to the finish by 1 1/4 lengths.

Last seen finishing second as the favorite in the Holy Bull (G3) on Feb. 1, Tappan Street broke well from post 9 and settled in fourth down the backside. Setting the pace was Madaket Road, who was followed by Neoequos and outsider Indecisiveness. Sovereignty, favored at 17-10 following a come-from-behind win in the Fountain of Youth (G2) followed Tappan Street.

Quicker into gear than the favorite, Tappan Street took off after the leaders on the far turn, collared the tiring speed in midstretch, and was not seriously threatened by Sovereignty's belated bid.

Owned in partnership by WinStar Farm, CHC Inc., and Cold Press Racing, the Brad Cox-trained Tappan Street covered one lap of Gulfstream's fast track in 1:49.27. He returned $6.80 as the 2-1 second choice.

'Anytime you have a young horse like this and you give them eight weeks between starts, it's always a concern. But this is a very smart horse. He's intelligent,' Cox said. 'I thought he would break very, very well today the way he was training, and he did. That put him in the race and put him in a great position.'

Sovereignty was a clear second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Neoequos. Madaket Road finished fourth, five lengths ahead of stakes newcomer Disruptor. Jimmy's Dailys, Indecisiveness, Cool Intentions, Smoken Boy, and Enterdadragon completed the order of finish.

Tappan Street secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby, earning 100 qualifying points to increase his total to 110. Sovereignty added 50 points and now has 110, while Neoequos bumped his total from 15 to 40. Madaket Road increased his total from 31 to 46, while Disruptor earned 10 points.

'We have five weeks. We have to make sure he comes out of it in good order, first and foremost,' Cox said. 'Our plan right now is Monday or Tuesday to ship him to Churchill. Hopefully, he comes out of it in good order and we can march forward. I think he's going to get a tremendous amount out of this.'

Tappan Street, who won his debut on Dec. 28 at Gulfstream over seven furlongs, was produced by the Grade 2-placed Distorted Humor mare Virginia Key. He bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm and sold for $1 million at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga.

Five G will head to the Kentucky Oaks (G1) with some momentum after a wire-to-wire victory in the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), her second stakes of the winter season in South Florida.

Favored at 13-10 in a field of six, Five G dictated terms and then drew away from the stalking Anna's Promise to take the 1 1/16-mile feature by 2 1/4 lengths. Anna's Promise finished 10 1/4 lengths ahead of Cassiar, who was followed by Whatintheliteral and Paradise City. Second choice The Queens M G was pulled up after what was described as an 'apparent knee injury.'

Jockey Manny Franco, substituting for the injured Tyler Gaffalione, was aboard Five G, who finished up in 1:43.22 and paid $4.60.

'She's been a nice surprise,' said George Weaver, who trains Five G for owner-breeder Gatsas Stables. 'She was a nice New York-bred during the summer. When I brought her down here, I thought, 'Wow we might have something here.' It just keeps getting tougher from this point.'

Five G broke her maiden second time out over the turf at Aqueduct, and then finished a close second over the same course in mid-November. She followed up with a nine-length romp in the one-mile Cash Run S. over Gulfstream's main track and was most recently second in the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn to Quietside, who followed up with a victory herself Saturday in the Fantasy (G2).

Five G earned 100 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks, bringing her total to 125. Anna's Promise earned 50 points, Cassiar 25 points, Whatintheliteral 15 points, and Paradise City 10 points.

Five G is a daughter of Vekoma and the Quality Road mare Triumphant.