3/29/2025
14 GP The FL Derby (GI) [KYD]
$1,000.000 3yo 11/8th Mile Dirt 122lbs
We both had the winner, but so did a majority of the free world. Daemon keeps his hot hand going and moves to the top of my KYD list as he opens a big lead into the lane of Saturday’s FL Derby (GI) and holds off the late charge of Red Font to score by a half-length while stopping the clock in a very respectable time of 1:47.91 for the mile and an eighth distance. The main GP oval was listed as Fast. With his speed, coupled with his heart, Alydar Stables has to feel pretty good about things, and I would doubt that you see him again before we all head to Louisville, for that first Saturday in May. Six in a row, he’s dismissed my thought of a BC Juv curse… he’s the real deal. Congrats to the connections.
Red Font emerged from mid-pack, moving up into the lane and then closed in late, but just didn’t have enough to get to the winner. That was a fantastic bounce back after a pair of eighth place finishes in the Lecomte (GIII) and Rebel (GII). This is another that should have enough points to get into the CD gate (currently 6th in points), and the chestnut gelding may be coming into form at just the right time.
Fire Teeth certainly main his presence felt, in only his fifth lifetime start, first stakes effort and first race since breaking his maiden in his previous start… closing from last to gain the third spot made my eyebrows go up, but he may have to make another start if this outfit wants to find a way to land a spot in the KYD gate. Perhaps they bide their time and come back in the PRK? Time will tell. Hazardous stalked the pace into the late stages before being out finished and ending up fourth, today… that extends Mb’s FL Derby winless streak and is an anomaly in an otherwise dominating career for the monster conditioner. As Jerry’s Cubs would say, there’s always next year.
Congrats to all involved in this fantastic race!!
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, TC 2025, THE TRIPLE CROWN
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