Horse Racing

Florida’s Best Head-to-Head Match in the FL . Derby


Classic Road | SV Photography

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HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The winners of four Florida’s Kentucky Derby prep races will meet on Saturday as they kick off the finals before the first Saturday of May at Gulfstream’s GI Curlin Florida Derby.

Classic Road (Giant’s Causeway) dominated the Tampa Bay Downs preps, scoring decisive wins in both GIII Sam F. Davis S. February 12 and GII Tampa Bay Derby March 12. with a dominant debut at Saratoga on September 4. Finishing third after setting pace in the GI Claiborne Breeders’ Future S. in Keeneland on October 9, he finished a good second in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs on October 9. November 27 .

Irad Ortiz, who drove the Classic Causeway to win both Tampa races, will continue to take part in Saturday’s test. Coordinator Brian Lynch said he would leave the race in the hands of the lead driver.

“Irad and the Classic Causeway have some kind of chemistry there,” says Lynch. “They’ve got it going. I won’t get too involved. He’s ridden it well the last two times. He’s a good gate horse, so I’m sure he’ll run away and I’ll let Irad take it from there.”

Classic Causeway’s good portal speed usually puts him right at or near the front end. With some other sprinters logged in, it’s possible to set things up for Simplify (Not this time), whose two excellent attempts were eventually slowed down. Local Top Winner Mucho Macho Man S. on New Year’s Day, the bay was startled when the gates opened on February 5 GIII Holy Bull S. and fled last. He rallies in the lane, but refuses to change direction, only holding off favorite Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) is second after White Abarrio (Race day). Going further next time under the helm of new pilot Jose Ortiz, Simplify settled in the middle of the pack and made an extensive late run to bring the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. length 3 1/2, earns 96 Beyer Speed ​​Figure.

“I’m very pleased with the way he entered the race,” Ortiz said. “He has two great works [5f in :59 4/5 Mar. 26 and 5f in 1:01 4/5 Mar. 19]. Looks like there will be some speed in the race. The main thing for us is to get off to a good start and get in a good position.”

White Abarrio finished third behind the Classic Causeway at the Kentucky Jockey Club after winning the first two starts at Gulfstream last year. He opened his 2022 account with a superior score in Holy Bull, stalked and successfully grabbed 4 1/2. Connectionion decided to skip the Fountain of Youth to give the pony more time after a mild illness and he had another fever spike last week, but the connections say he’s back to normal. (Read more in Friday’s Stable C2 racing feature).

Six-time Florida Derby winner Todd Pletcher steps an impressive first winner to the majors here Charge it (Tapit). Missing only a neck in its January 8 debut here, this gray car made its way home to an 8 1/2 length graduate followed by a mile on the oval February 12 This, fits a Number 93 Beyer Speed.

“This is a huge step up from the first two,” says Pletcher. “He was impressive, not only in practice, but also in his first win and I think even on his debut, even though he didn’t win. It was a strong race. We think he has the talent for it. Hopefully he has enough experience and spice because we’re giving up a lot of that for some good horses. We are at the same time optimistic.”

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This story was posted in News is shared and tagged Brian Lynch, Charge it, Classic Road, Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park, Jose Ortiz, Kentucky Derby, Simplify, Todd Pletcher, White Abarrio.





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