Down the Stretch They Come- Florida Derby 3/31/18
- Updated: 03/31/2018
Today is Gulfstream Park’s Big Day, the Florida Derby, the final race of the three preps at Gulfstream and one of the major prep races for the Kentucky Derby in five weeks, the first Saturday in May. It’s gonna be a zoo in Hallandale!
The first prep, the Holy Bull went to Todd Pletcher’s Audible (3-1), who rated and then won the race going away by 5 1/2 lengths over Free Drop Billy. The second prep, the Fountain of Youth was captured wire-to-wire by front-running Promises Fulfilled (18-1) by 2 lengths over Strike Power. Audible, Promises Fulfilled and Strike Power are all entered in the Florida Derby along with six others including newcomer Catholic Boy who placed in the Sam F. Davis in Tampa in February.
1. Strike Power (4-1) -will have to step it up and find something late
2. Millionaire Runner (50-1) – owner is asking way too much from this fella
3. Tip Sheet (30-1) – local owner just wanted to make sure he got a nice box for the race
4. Promises Fulfilled (3-1) -front runner, pace may get him today
5. Storm Runner (20-1) -needs to improve, last race was embarrassing
6. Catholic Boy (7-2) – solid contender, today might be the day he announces himself as a Derby threat
7. Hofburg (20-1) – would be a shocker after only a maiden win, but the upside is there, worth a shot
8. Audible (9-5) – consistent and rested but we’ll see today as the level of competition is raised significantly
9. Mississippi (12-1) -blinkers on should help in first Stakes try, improvement expected, good value
Expected favorites, Audible and Promises Fulfilled could be vulnerable here. Catholic Boy is the only colt who has won at 1 1/8 miles and has worked well since placing in Tampa in early February. Strike Power deserves another chance to see if he can handle the distance. He should bring a bigger challenge to Promises Fulfilled up front which may result in the Fountain of Youth winner tiring in the stretch. Mississippi is well bred (Pioneer of the Nile), has worked well and should show the necessary improvement to contend here. May be running big at the end. Longshot Hofburg is interesting, also well bred (out of Tapit), the colt scored an impressive maiden win four weeks ago at Gulfstream and trainer Bill Mott might have something up his sleeve here. He also could prove to be a factor late in this race. Audible hasn’t really faced much but did turn in a solid 99 Beyer in the Holy Bull. Audible may have to expend some energy early which could take it’s toll late in the stretch.
The Bozos are going to key Catholic Boy and Audible with Strike Power, Hofburg and Mississippi in exactas and trifectas. We’ll reverse this as well. With the second favorite out of our selections, the payouts should be sweet if we cash. Catholic Boy on Easter weekend just sounds right!
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