Here is the write-up from equibase. I was about to say I couldn't remember the last Florida Derby winner who won the Kentucky derby. I forgot abot Monarchos 3 years ago. I was watching that race live too. That was an amazing closing rush Monarchos used to win that race.
Florida Derby – Grade 1
Race 9 at Gulfstream Park Hallandale, Florida
Saturday, March 13, 2004
One mile and one-eighth
Three-year-olds. $1,000,000 Purse
TV: ESPN2 4:00 p.m. EST
By Equibase Handicapper Ellis Starr
More than half of the horses that have run in both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, so it may be just as important to have a horse run well enough to earn a trip to the Kentucky Derby as it is to take home the lion’s share of the $1,000,000 purse. Led by Fountain of Youth Stakes winner Read the Footnotes, previously undefeated Sir Oscar and The Cliff’s Edge, this edition of the Florida Derby should prove to be a very exciting race.
Editor's note: The last horse that won both the Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby was Monarchos in 2001. Last year’s Florida Derby winner Empire Maker ran a gallant second in the Kentucky Derby to Funny Cide.
Pace:
Value Plus has led every step of the way in his two career wins, and should be going for the lead here when the gates open, as will Frisky Spider, who has been the leader or has been within a head of the leader in all of his races. In addition Frisky Spider adds blinkers today. Blinkers can usually improve a horse's performance by cutting down its field of vision and distractions.
Behind the early leaders we should expect to see Read the Footnotes, Sir Oscar, Notorious Rogue (making his second start in blinkers), Tapit and Friends Lake. The Cliff’s Edge, Farnum Alley and Smoocher are likely to be near the back early, hoping for a fast pace to help their rallies.
Contenders:
Read the Footnotes goes for his fourth straight win in a graded stakes, coming off a game win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on February 14 over this track, his first race in two and one-half months. Read the Footnotes should continue to move forward off the 86 Equibase Speed Figure earned in that victory, shooting to equal or better the 91 speed figure earned in winning the Grade 2 Remson Stakes last November 29. From the number two post position, he should be able to drop to the rail when both horses inside of him fall behind as is their style, and from the rail Read the Footnotes can save a lot of ground before launching his bid for the lead.
The Cliff’s Edge also should improve, making his second start following nearly three months off. The Cliff’s Edge ran second in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa on February 21, in spite of starting out 11th and last and being forced to race wide around the track. The Cliff’s Edge figures to be rallying strongly in the late stages, equaling or bettering the 85 Equibase Speed Figure earned when winning the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs last November.
Sir Oscar had a perfect six-for-six record before the Fountain of Youth Stakes, with a legitimate excuse for his poor effort that day. Sir Oscar bled during the running of that race, a common ailment among horses under stress, so in this race he runs with anti-bleeding medication. Sir Oscar has also been transferred to the barn of a new trainer since that last race, veteran Martin Wolfson, and since that switch Sir Oscar has had a couple of sensational workouts to show no ill effects from his last race. Sir Oscar earned a very high 97 Equibase Speed Figure in his last start of 2003, the Jack Price Juvenile Stakes.
Value Plus is one of trainer Todd Pletcher’s 35 nominees this year to the Visa Triple Crown and is a very talented colt having earned an speed figure of 92 in his most recent start, a seven furlong race over the track following three and one-half months on the shelf. Value Plus has won twice in his five-race career, both in wire-to-wire fashion, which may not be possible today competing with the speedy Frisky Spider for the early lead.
The long shot contender looks to be Notorious Rogue, who added blinkers for the first time for his last race, resulting in a very nice closing rush to get second over the track, earning his best Equibase Speed Figure ever of 87. Notorious Rogue may have turned a corner, and with a possible pace duel in front of him Notorious Rogue could have a big say in the outcome.
The balance of the field consists of Tapit, Friends Lake, Farnum Alley, Frisky Spider and Smoocher. Tapit will be one of the favored selections after winning the Grade 3 Laurel Futurity last November with a speed figure of 87. However, he has been out of action for four months and will possibly need this race as a foundation.
Big Day at Gulfstream:
Also among the 13 races offered at Gulfstream Park is another important race for three-year-olds, the seven furlong Swale Stakes, with Eurosilver expected to be the favorite. Despite the belief by some handicappers that horses need to run in two turn races at this time of year to be successful in the Kentucky Derby, that is not always the case. Secretariat used his victory in a seven furlong Kentucky Derby prep, the Bay Shore, to set him up for victories in the Wood Memorial and the Kentucky Derby.
Future Wager:
This weekend also offers wagering on the second Pool of Churchill Downs’ 2004 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks Future Wager. Wagering ends at 6:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, which gives racing fans and bettors the opportunity to see how this weekend’s races shape up before deciding which of their Kentucky Derby choices offer the best value.
Looking ahead:
Sunday there will be two more important three-year-old races, the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California and the Tampa Bay Derby in Tampa, Florida.
2003 Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Action This Day makes his second start of the year in the San Felipe, while the Tampa Bay Derby is expected to attract Swingforthefences, stable mate of likely Florida Derby favorite Read the Footnotes, along with Kaufy Mate, winner of the Sam F. Davis stakes at Tampa Bay last month.
Next weekend on the Kentucky Derby trail we get the Lane’s End Stakes from Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky, the Gotham Stakes from Aqueduct in Ozone Park, New York and the Rebel Stakes from Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The Lane’s End is expected to feature Birdstone, an easy winner of his first race of 2004 last month, while highly regarded Eddington and Redskin Warrior are two of the hopefuls expected in the Gotham Stakes. In the Rebel we should see Smarty Jones, coming off a game win in the Southwest Stakes, as well as Mr. Jester following his second place finish to Gradepoint in the Risen Star
