The FL Derby (Grade 1) (KYD)- $750.000 Purse
GP- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
March 27, 2021
It is time for the FL Derby, a 100-point KYD prep race that historically brings out the best in the game. There are other races running next week that will also have great three year olds, but the history of the FL Derby has always been a great one. It was the race of choice for Five Fives in 2010, but for more recent stars of the game, we saw Shootfromthehip win here in 2017 before winning the KYD a month later. Last year, the top three finishers were Anoush Command, Chai Morning, and Royal Assembly. So, that’s a very good horse that might not have won a TC race but had a great season (and did win the Queens Plate), the PRK winner, and the KYD winner. Other than Proud Crown, I don’t think anyone in this field is being looked at as being a strong contender to win the KYD, but Royal Assembly was not seen that way at this time last year, either. There is plenty of talent and ability in the starting gate, and winning this race can be an excellent springboard to the KYD, which is now just five weeks away. Here’s the field!
#1- Settle The Score Vr (Estero Farms, ridden by D Davis)- Getting the rail for this race is this Viking Rasta gelding that finished fourth in the Holy Bull at the end of January, and it gave him a KYD point. He’s been working very well, so it is a little surprising to see that he took the entire month of February, and most of March off to race again. The trainer has other KYD hopefuls, but that seems like valuable missed time. Now, Settle The Score Vr is in a position to where he must at least finish second (probably) to get in.
#2- Accountant (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- In a time of year where accountants are focusing on 2020 tax returns, this Accountant would love to go back to 2020. He finished his two year old season very strong, winning the Springboard Mile after back to back second place finishes in NY-bred stakes. After flipping the calendar, Accountant has struggled, finishing seventh in his two prep races. Seems like he needs a little more to get good results against this company, perhaps the trainer can find the deductions needed to get a stronger return here.
#3- Resident Fox (Fractious, ridden by D Saenz)- As a third quarter two year old, Resident Fox was behind his competition right out of the box, but Fractious has done a great job bringing him along. After two wins in three starts, including the $100.000 Battaglia Memorial which earned him 10 points, Resident Fox takes the next step into graded company here. He is going to need more than those ten points, but with them in his back pocket, he could probably get into the KYD with a top three finish here, but of course it’s too early to tell that.
#4- Tiger Claw (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by M E Smith)- This gelding has mostly been seen on the turf over his career, but one of his more recent dirt races was the Springboard Mile late last year. He did not run well there, placing seventh, and afterwards it was back to the grass. Faces tough foes here as the trainer takes the shot to get him into the KYD, though his works suggest he can be competitive.
#5- Proud Crown (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Here is the horse with the target on his back, as on paper, he is the one to beat. As I have followed these races, I have been impressed with the manner in which Mb has managed his top horses during prep season. He is the master, of course, but even the greats deserve credit where credit is due. Proud Crown will be in the KYD based on points, but he needs to prove himself to Mb, since the trainer is unfortunately restricted to just three runners in the KYD.
#6- Ptyrannical (Arindel, ridden by Mar Garcia)- After running in a couple of ungraded stakes on the grass, Arindel picked this horse up in private sales for $200.000. Ptyrannical was welcomed into the stable on Christmas Eve by being gelded, and took out his frustrations on an allowance field five days later. That, too, was on the grass, and off of that, he was sent to the Holy Bull on the main track, and he was nowhere to be found at the end. But the reason to like Ptyrannical is not because of his past performance, but because of his works. On March 15th, he was impressive at GP. I’m not going to pick him here, but if the odds climbed on him enough, which they may, I’d take a shot.
#7- Heffalump Hanny (Jive Inc, ridden by G Saez)- This colt has managed two wins in his eight starts, but I do like that he always seems to be in the mix at the end of a race. The last time we saw him run, it was in the Fountain of Youth, right here, at the end of February. He never really threatened for the win, but did get up for fourth thanks to a steady effort, picking up five points. That’s a fine effort, but he will need to find a little more speed to have a shot to win here. For now, he looks like a middle of the field finisher to me.
#8- Hint Of Sugar (Arindel, ridden by E Jaramillo) Another strong runner that Arindel will bring to the starting gate, and I’m sure winning this race would be a little more special to him than it may be for others here. Hint Of Sugar nearly gave him a Fountain Of Youth victory here last month, but he missed by half a length, settling for second behind Proud Crown. Can he get that revenge here today? Both of them should adapt well to the increased distance of the race, but perhaps that could be just enough for Hint Of Sugar to get it done. I find this horse quite appealing, honestly, it’s a shame that it took him so long to break his maiden, and that’s why he is not talked about more here. I think he’s going to get it done!
#9- Cossack (Patterson Stables, ridden by Ru Fuentes)- Another third quarter two year old that has had to deal with being behind many of his rivals in terms of track time. Cossack has still been able run five times, mainly against CA-breds, but did not break his maiden until his last start. As I say many times with a horse like this, if you feel it has the ability, you have to take a shot. Hasn’t publicly worked a mile since late October, but I like what I see there, especially if it’s been improved upon.
#10- Stress Free (Mb Stables, ridden by A Cedillo)- This one was scheduled to run last week in the LA Derby, but the trainer pulled him out of that and he winds up here. Stress Free has run just twice thus far, and comes off a maiden win at SA in late January. He’ll be ready to run this time, but Proud Crown does look to be the trainer’s better option. Note that whenever I seem to say that about a Mb horse, the other one, in this case Stress Free, seems to win.
#11- Breath Of The Wild (Smokey Stover, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Smokey has a very strong threat for the KYD in Pocantico, but it may be that ends up being Smokey’s only entry. When it’s Pocantico, that’s not a great problem, but Breath Of The Wild seems to be very capable of getting into the race as well. He ran well in the Lecomte, placing fourth, and that needs to be a performance to build upon. Breath Of The Wild simply has not done that, with disappointing efforts in the Southwest and two weeks ago in the Rebel. Not worried about the short turnaround since I am not sure Breath Of The Wild even showed up there to begin with, though the past performances say he did.
#12- Brave Companion (Nakamura Stables, ridden by V R Carrasco)- This trainer has sent his last two KYD winners through the FL Derby, so based on that we should consider Brave Companion a little more strongly. It is a horse that has a strong two year old season, which included winning the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity at KEE in October. Since then, three of his next four races have been disappointments, but there is still the Lewis. In that race, he showed his 2020 form, placing second, so we know he still has it.
#13- Elixir- Scratched
#14- Sports Page- Scratched
#15- Added Value (Alabarda Stable, ridden by J L Ortiz)- The trainer will be happy to get into this race thanks to the above scratches, but he is a case of taking a shot this time of year because it is the KYD. He’s won two of four, and his last race was an allowance win against FL-breds at TAM last month. I’d love to recap Alabarda winning the FL Derby, but I couldn’t not wager any money on this horse as he is too unproven against this company for me.
Prediction: 8-5-6-3
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
