Quality Road Among Challengers for Florida Derby
by Patricia Woo | Mar 23 2009
With the
Kentucky Derby drawing closer and the chances to tune up against top flight competition running out, each prep race is more important than the last. This weekend, horse bettors will be focusing on Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., where the $750,000 Gr. 1 Florida Derby will take place on Saturday, March 28. Among the top prospects expected for this 9-furlong test are Quality Road, Theregoesjojo, Dunkirk and Beethoven.
Though trainer Jimmy Jerkens neglected to nominate his charge for the Triple Crown, Quality Road seems to be making a case for his inclusion. On Feb. 28, the 3-year-old son of Elusive Quality surprised many by his commanding victory in the Gr. 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes – especially since it came at the expense of several other top Derby prospects, including Notonthesamepage, This Ones For Phil, Beethoven as well as Capt. Candyman Can. However, Quality Road will be stretching out to 9 furlongs for the Florida Derby, and horse bettors will find out on Saturday if this Edward P. Evans-owned colt can handle the distance.
Runner-up to Quality Road in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, Theregoesjojo has been prepping at Gulfstream Park for another crack at a graded stakes title. A recent breeze of 6 furlongs in the slop was clocked at 1:15.20; trainer Kenneth McPeek has been cautious about training his charge in the poor weather: “I don’t normally like to work horses on a muddy track, but this went well… he got what he needed and came out of it just fine.” Theregoesjojo beat Quality Road to the wire in an allowance race on Jan. 10 and will be looking for a repeat performance in the Florida Derby.
Dunkirk is an intriguing 3-year-old son of Unbridled’s Song who was acquired by Susan Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor at the 2007 Keeneland Yearling Sale for a whopping $3.7M. The gray colt has been a two-time winner at
Gulfstream Park this year, breaking his maiden on Jan. 24 and then winning an allowance race in impressive fashion by 4 ¾ lengths on Feb. 19. Like Big Brown, last year’s Florida Derby champion, Dunkirk will be making the leap from allowance race to Grade 1 company for the first time, and trainer Todd Pletcher will be hoping that his charge will fare as well as the eventual 2008 Kentucky Derby champion.
Beethoven, a John T. Ward trainee, will also get another chance to prove he belongs with the top Derby prospects. Since a stellar win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November, this son of Sky Mesa has been underachieving: He finished fourth in the Holy Bull Stakes and got up late for the show finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. He will need a perfect trip to compensate for what is expected to be yet another sloppy track at Gulfstream Park.
The Florida Derby has produced two Kentucky Derby winners in its history: Barbaro in 2006 and Big Brown in 2008. Will we see another Florida Derby champion go on to win the Run for the Roses in May in 2009?
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