—Mar 31— Todd Pletcher’s talented colt, Audible— a runaway winner in the Grade II Holy Bull Stakes here in February— headlines a field of six set to compete in the $1,000,000 Xpressbet Florida Derby on Saturday. Audible was simply untouchable in the Holy Bull, drawing clear of Free Drop Billy enroute to a 4½ length win, and is expected to be the short-priced favorite. Curiously, Pletcher has chosen to replace jockey, Javier Castellano, with John Velazquez for the race. Both Pletcher and Velazquez have four Florida Derby wins.
Dale Romans’ Promises Fulfilled, who won the Fountain of Youth Stakes earlier this month, is the likely second favorite in the race. Prior to winning the Fountain of Youth, Promises Fulfilled finished second in the Swale. The chestnut colt enters the race having earned more than $285K in purse money this year, nearly 10 times his $37,000 purchase price. Robby Albarado, a finalist of this year’s Hall of Fame, inherits the mount from Irad Ortiz, who will be aboard Catholic Boy in the Florida Derby.
Speaking of Catholic Boy, he rates a strong contender here. Second in his first start in the Pasco Stakes at 7 furlongs at Tampa Bay Downs, Catholic Boy was a disappointing fifth behind the undefeated Quip in the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes (also at Tampa). He’s been ridden by Manny Franco, an accomplished rider on the New York circuit, in his last two races, but will be ridden by the suddenly hot Irad Ortiz on Saturday. Ortiz trails only his brother with 10 wins from 45 mounts (22%).
Hofburg has raced in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes and Holy Bull at Gulfsream and the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs, but finished off-the-board in each start, making him something of a surprise entrant here. The son of the leading sire Tapit has just $29,145 in earnings. His trainer, Bill Mott, is in the Hall of Fame for a reason, so look for Hofburg to give a good account of himself here.
Strike Power won the Swale Stakes at odds of 14/1, but failed to menace in either the Fountain of Youth or Hutcheson Stakes subsequently. Not without talent, he seems more suited to sprint races than the 9 furlong distance of the Florida Derby.
Mississippi seems to be going in the wrong direction.
Retro Horse Racing Game 