| Grade I race | |
| Location | Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida, USA |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1952 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
| Website | www.floridaderby.com |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 11⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | 122 lbs (55.3 kg) |
| Purse | $1 million (since 2011)[1] |
The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturday in May. Thus the Florida Derby is currently run either at the end of March or the beginning of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade I race is run at 11⁄8 miles on the dirt for a purse currently set at $1 Million.
History[edit]
Mike Welsch Mar 28, 2020 Tiz the Law further entrenched himself as one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby when posting a convincing victory Saturday in the 69th running of the Grade 1. The Barclay Tagg-trained colt will also try to cement a place in the starting gate for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, which has been postponed to September 5, as the Florida Derby winner will earn 100. Fire At Will flies to 2020 Juvenile Turf win (1:49) MIAMI — The Florida Derby is set to have a full field and empty stands. A field of 12 has been entered for Saturday’s Florida Derby, typically one of the biggest Kentucky Derby prep races and serves as the crown jewel of the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. 2020 Florida Derby Contenders #1 As Seen On TV (Kelly Breen) 12 to 1 It’s always difficult to judge where a horse should be placed, as in whether it’s a sprinter or a distance horse. The 2020 Florida Derby features a full field of 12 horses and arguably four of the top 10 current Kentucky Derby prospects listed as the top four choices on the morning line, including three sons from the first crop of Constitution – the aptly named No. 5 Gouverneur Morris (8-1), No. 7 Tiz the Law (6-5), and No. 9 Independence Hall (9-2).
The Florida Derby was first run in 1952. It has long been a prestigious prep race for the Kentucky Derby and since 2013 has been part of the official Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The race was originally run in early to mid-March and Kentucky Derby hopefuls would then run in another major prep race in April. In 2005, Gulfstream Park shifted its scheduling to run the race five weeks before the Kentucky Derby. This was originally believed to be a liability, as the preferred spacing of races is typically three to four weeks.[2] When Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby,[3] the five-week spacing began to be viewed as a potentially positive feature, allowing a horse to come into the Kentucky Derby well rested.[4]
In 1977, a large field resulted in the race being run in two divisions.
Between 1926 and 1937, the Flamingo Stakes was known as the Florida Derby.
Triple Crown Classic Winners[edit]
In total, 20 winners of the Florida Derby have gone on to win one or more Triple Crown Classics (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes).
Kentucky Derby Winners:Needles (1956), Tim Tam (1958), Carry Back (1961), Northern Dancer (1964), *Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Swale (1984), Unbridled (1990), Thunder Gulch (1995), Monarchos (2001), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Orb (2013), Nyquist (2016), and Always Dreaming (2017).
Preakness Stakes Winners:Nashua (1955), Tim Tam (1958), Bally Ache (1960), Carry Back (1961), Candy Spots (1963),Northern Dancer(1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Snow Chief (1986), and Big Brown (2008).
Belmont Stakes Winners: Nashua (1955), Needles (1956), Swale (1984), Thunder Gulch (1995), Empire Maker (2003), and Tiz the Law (2020).
- In 1968, Dancer's Image won the Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified and moved to last place after traces of phenylbutazone (a drug that was illegal at the time) was found in a post-race urine analysis. Forward Pass, the Derby runner-up, was awarded the honor of first placing.
- In 2019, Maximum Security won the Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified and moved to 17th place. This was the first disqualification due to a racing infraction in Kentucky Derby history.
Records[edit]
Speed Record:
- 1:46.80 – Gen. Duke (1957), equaled the world record for 11⁄8 miles at the time.
Most wins by an owner:
- 5 – Calumet Farm (1957, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1978)
Most wins by a jockey:
- 5 – John R. Velazquez (2009, 2013, 2015, 2017,2018)
Most wins by a trainer:
- 5 – Todd Pletcher (2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018)
Largest margin of victory:
- 93⁄4 lengths – Empire Maker (2003)[5]
Shortest priced winners:
Florida Derby 2020 Entries
- $2.10 (1/20 on) – Honest Pleasure (1976), Spectacular Bid (1979)[5]
Longest priced winner:
- $183.60 (~91/1) – Williamstown Kid (1966)[5]
Winners[edit]
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Win$ | Gr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tiz the Law | Manny Franco | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 1:50.00 | $750,000 | I |
| 2019 | Maximum Security | Luis Saez | Jason Servis | Mary & Gary West | 1:48.86 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2018 | Audible | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Starlight Racing, WinStar Farm | 1:49.48 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Brooklyn Boyz/Te.Viola Racing | 1:47.47 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2016 | Nyquist | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O'Neill | Reddam Racing | 1:49.11 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2015 | Materiality | John R. Velazquez | Todd Pletcher | Alto Racing | 1:52.30 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2014 | Constitution | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher | Winstar Farm | 1:49.17 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2013 | Orb | John Velazquez | C. R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable | 1:50.87 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2012 | Take Charge Indy | Calvin Borel | Patrick B. Byrne | Chuck & Maribeth Sandford | 1:48.79 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2011 | Dialed In | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1:50.74 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2010 | Ice Box | Jose Lezcano | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1:49.19 | $750,000 | I |
| 2009 | Quality Road | John Velazquez | James A. Jerkens | Edward P. Evans | 1:47.72 | $750,000 | I |
| 2008 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables & Paul Pompa Jr. | 1:48.16 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2007 | Scat Daddy | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | James Scatuorchio & Michael Tabor | 1:49.00 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2006 | Barbaro | Edgar Prado | Michael Matz | Lael Stables | 1:49.01 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2005 | High Fly | Jerry Bailey | Nick Zito | Live Oak Plantation | 1:49.43 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2004 | Friends Lake | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | Chester & Mary Broman | 1:51.38 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2003 | Empire Maker | Jerry Bailey | Robert Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:49.05 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2002 | Harlan's Holiday | Edgar Prado | Kenneth McPeek | Starlight Stable (Jack & Laurie Wolf) | 1:48.80 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2001 | Monarchos | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:49.95 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 2000 | Hal's Hope | Roger Velez | Harold J. Rose | Rose Family Stable | 1:51.49 | $1,000,000 | I |
| 1999 | Vicar | Shane Sellers | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1:50.83 | $750,000 | I |
| 1998 | Cape Town † | Shane Sellers | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1:49.21 | $750,000 | I |
| 1997 | Captain Bodgit | Alex Solis | Gary Capuano | Team Valor | 1:50.60 | $750,000 | I |
| 1996 | Unbridled's Song | Mike Smith | James T. Ryerson | Paraneck Stable | 1:47.85 | $750,000 | I |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | Mike Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1:49.70 | $500,000 | I |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | Mike Smith | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Warren A. Croll Jr. | 1:47.66 | $500,000 | I |
| 1993 | Bull Inthe Heather | Wigberto Ramos | Howard M. Tesher | Arthur Klein | 1:51.38 | $500,000 | I |
| 1992 | Technology | Jerry Bailey | Hubert Hine | Scott C. Savin | 1:50.72 | $500,000 | I |
| 1991 | Fly So Free | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Tommy Valando | 1:50.44 | $500,000 | I |
| 1990 | Unbridled | Pat Day | Carl Nafzger | Genter Stable | 1:52.00 | $500,000 | I |
| 1989 | Mercedes Won | Earlie Fires | Arnold Fink | Christopher Spencer | 1:49.60 | $500,000 | I |
| 1988 | Brian's Time | Randy Romero | John M. Veitch | James W. Phillips | 1:49.80 | $500,000 | I |
| 1987 | Cryptoclearance | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Phil Teinowitz | 1:49.60 | $500,000 | I |
| 1986 | Snow Chief | Alex Solis | Melvin F. Stute | Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle | 1:51.80 | $500,000 | I |
| 1985 | Proud Truth | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Darby Dan Farm | 1:50.00 | $500,000 | I |
| 1984 | Swale | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1:47.60 | $300,000 | I |
| 1983 | Croeso | Frank Olivares | Stephen A. DiMauro | Cardiff Stud Farm & Jerry & Roy Fowler | 1:49.80 | $300,000 | I |
| 1982 | Timely Writer | Jeffrey Fell | Dominic Imprescia | Peter & Francis Martin | 1:49.60 | $250,000 | I |
| 1981 | Lord Avie | Chris McCarron | Daniel Perlsweig | David Simon | 1:50.40 | $250,000 | I |
| 1980 | Plugged Nickle | Buck Thornburg | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 1:50.20 | $250,000 | I |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm (Harry & Teresa Meyerhoff) | 1:48.80 | $200,000 | I |
| 1978 | Alydar | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1:47.00 | $200,000 | I |
| 1977‡ | Ruthie's Native | Craig Perret | Eugene Jacobs | Ruth A. Perlmutter | 1:50.20 | $125,000 | I |
| Coined Silver | Buck Thornburg | George T. Poole III | C. V. Whitney | 1:48.80 | $125,000 | I | |
| 1976 | Honest Pleasure | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1:47.80 | $125,000 | I |
| 1975 | Prince Thou Art | Braulio Baeza | Lou Rondinello | Darby Dan Farm | 1:50.40 | $150,000 | I |
| 1974 | Judger | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1:49.00 | $150,000 | I |
| 1973 | Royal and Regal | Walter Blum | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Aisco Stable | 1:47.40 | $130,000 | I |
| 1972 | Upper Case | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1:50.00 | $130,000 | |
| 1971 | Eastern Fleet | Eddie Maple | Reggie Cornell | Calumet Farm | 1:47.40 | $125,000 | |
| 1970 | My Dad George | Ray Broussard | Frank J. McManus | Raymond M. Curtis | 1:50.80 | $125,000 | |
| 1969 | Top Knight | Manuel Ycaza | Raymond F. Metcalf | Steven B. Wilson | 1:48.40 | ||
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Don Brumfield | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 1:49.00 | ||
| 1967 | In Reality | Earlie Fires | Melvin Calvert | Frances A. Genter | 1:50.20 | ||
| 1966 | Williamston Kid † | Robert Stevenson | James Bartlett | Paul F. Ternes & James Bartlett | 1:50.60 | ||
| 1965 | Native Charger | John L. Rotz | Raymond F. Metcalf | Warner Stable | 1:51.20 | ||
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Shoemaker | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 1:50.80 | ||
| 1963 | Candy Spots | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1:50.60 | ||
| 1962 | Ridan | Manuel Ycaza | LeRoy Jolley | Mrs. Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer | 1:50.40 | ||
| 1961 | Carry Back | Johnny Sellers | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 1:48.80 | ||
| 1960 | Bally Ache | Bobby Ussery | Homer Pitt | Edgehill Farm (Leonard D. & Morris Fruchtman) | 1:47.60 | ||
| 1959 | Easy Spur | Bill Hartack | Paul L. Kelley | Spring Hill Farm | 1:47.20 | ||
| 1958 | Tim Tam | Bill Hartack | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:49.20 | ||
| 1957 | Gen. Duke | Bill Hartack | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:46.80 | ||
| 1956 | Needles | David Erb | Hugh L. Fontaine | D & H Stable (Jack Dudley & Bonnie Heath) | 1:48.60 | ||
| 1955 | Nashua | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:53.20 | ||
| 1954 | Correlation | Bill Shoemaker | Noble Threewitt | Robert S. Lytle | 1:55.20 | ||
| 1953 | Money Broker | Alfred Popara | Vester R. Wright | G. & G. Stable (T. Alie Grissom & Edward Grosfield) | 1:53.80 | ||
| 1952 | Sky Ship | Ronnie Nash | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:50.80 |
- †1966 – Abe's First finished 1st but was disqualified to 4th
- ‡1977 – Run in Divisions
- †1998 – Lil's Lad finished 1st but was disqualified to 2nd
- Winners in bold won a Triple Crown Race
Special Bonus[edit]
Paths to $5,500,000 Preakness Bonus:
Florida Derby 2020 Entries And Post Positions
- winHoly Bull Stakes+ win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
- winFountain of Youth Stakes+ win the Florida Derby + win The Preakness Stakes
Paths to $550,000 XpressBet Consolation Bonus:
- + win, place or showHoly Bull Stakes+ win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby+ win The Preakness Stakes
- + win, place or showFountain of Youth Stakes+ win, place or show in the Florida Derby or win, place or show in the Santa Anita Derby+ win The Preakness Stakes
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'Florida Derby Profile'. Equibase. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^'Florida Derby stars bucking history'. Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^'Scat Daddy Wins in Florida; Next Stop Is Kentucky Derby'. The New York Times. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^Hoppert, Melissa (1 April 2016). 'A Showdown Between Mohaymen and Nyquist Before the Kentucky Derby'. The New York Times. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ^ abcMoore, Christina (27 March 2017). 'Florida Derby by the Numbers'. TJ Media Ventures. Retrieved 30 March 2017.