Eskendereya Leads Florida Derby Nominations

(Edited Gulfstream Park report)

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Zayat Stable’s Eskendereya, 8 ½ lengths winner of the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 20, is among 92 3-year-olds nominated for the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) to be run at 1 1/8 miles on Sat., Mar. 20, and trainer Todd Pletcher has confirmed it is the next logical start for his promising colt.

The 59th edition of the Florida Derby will highlight the biggest day of racing annually on the South Florida calendar and will also include renewals of the $150,000 Swale Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs, $200,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles, $150,000 Rampart Stakes (G2) for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles and $100,000 Appleton Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 7 ½ furlongs on turf.

Eskendereya’s tour de force victory in the Fountain of Youth under regular rider John Velazquez sent him soaring in most Top 10 Kentucky Derby contender rankings nationwide and will be a solid favorite if he goes to the post. The son of Giant’s Causeway is one of more than a dozen of the nominees from the Pletcher arsenal and had won a one-mile allowance over the track prior to the Fountain of Youth.

In addition to Eskendereya, the probable/possible field for the Florida Derby currently includes IEAH Stables and partners’ Radiohead, Flying Zee Stables and partners’ Pulsion, Robert LaPenta’s Ice Box, Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Pleasant Prince, Donald Dizney’s First Dude and Kuehne Stable’s Game On Dude.

The Bonnie Miss is the filly companion event to the Florida Derby that often yields leading contenders for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) run the day before the Derby at Churchill Downs. Leading prospects include IEAH Stable’s Amen Hallelujah, 6 ¼ lengths winner of the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) here on Feb. 27 for trainer Rick Dutrow; and Michael Imperio’s impressive allowance winner Christine Daae, trained by Patrick Biancone. 

Two contenders listed for the Swale include Paul Pompa, Jr.’s D’Funnybone, winner of the Saratoga Special (G2) and The Futurity (G2) at Belmont Park last year and the Hutcheson Stakes (G2) over the track and distance earlier this meet for trainer Rick Dutrow; and Edward P. Evans’ A Little Warm, winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes in early January and runner-up in the Hutcheson for trainer Anthony Dutrow.

The Rampart is the biggest prize of the winter season for older fillies and mares on the main track with nominees including Donver Stable’s Careless Jewel, winner of five straight last year including the Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga by 11 lengths for trainer Josie Carroll; and West Point Thoroughbreds’ Justwhistledixie, winner of the Bonnie Miss over the track and distance last year.

Completing the stakes line-up for Florida Derby day will be the Appleton with J. Mack Robinson’s Cherokee Artist and Farnsworth Stable’s Jet Propulsion prominent on the roster after finishing second and third last out, respectively, behind Dubai-bound Courageous Cat in the Canadian Turf Stakes (G3) here on Feb. 20.