The field is set for the 56th running of the Florida Derby (G1). I started this series of articles leading to this race with 149 horses, I've watched each prep race, hoping my favorites would make the race. Wondering if and hoping Breeder's Cup Juvenile (G1) Champion Street Sense would make a start in the race. So many stories so many talented horses. Now two months after starting this journey I am ready and the field is set for the Florida Derby.
Stories are in play with this years race - California's shippers, Michael Matz goes from hot horse to who is that horse, Scat Daddy still trying to prove to the racing community that he is a horse to be reckoned with, and is Bird truly the word. All eyes are focused on that $1,000,000 dollar prize. Time is running out for preps for the Kentucky Derby, this race may be the last prep for some contenders, and may be the second to last hope for others. Sadly we won't get to see Nobiz Like Shobiz, Street Sense, or Circular Quay. We have a talented and exciting field nonetheless.
The field for the 56th running of the Florida Derby includes: Post Position order
1.) Notional - By In Excess (IRE) - Truly Blessed by French Deputy: Continue his cross country assault on Kentucky Derby preps, following wins in California, and Louisiana, is Florida his next conquest on his way to Churchill Downs. He has the pedigree being by In Excess (IRE) who could run at any distance it seemed. As a sire In Excess always seems to have a quality individual making some sort of noise in some division, this year it is Notional. In Excess is already a classic type sire, siring Indian Charlie who ran a credible third in the 1998 running of the classic. Notional is out of Truly Blessed a daughter of leading sire French Deputy a son of Deputy Minister has had his best success at stud with Sprinter/Milers including champion Left Bank who did win the G1 Whitney H.at 9 furlongs. Truly Blessed's broodmare sire is the great sire Exclusive Native who is no stranger to Kentucky Derby success. Lets think real quick on his success with Genuine Risk, Triple Crown winner Affirmed, and Our Native. Distance not a question with this pedigree, if he wins the Florida Derby look out, this horse will be tough as nails in the Kentucky Derby. OWNED BY: J. Paul Reddam, TRAINER: Doug O'Neill JOCKEY: Robbie Albarado
2.) Imawildandcrazyguy - By: Wild Event - Frosty Cupcake by Top Account: This talented 2 year old ran a credible second to Notional in the Risen Star Stakes G3. This colt is breed to cover a distance of ground, my guess would be that he may find more success on the turf, but his form on dirt is good nonetheless. The Gray or roan is a son of G1 Turf star Wild Event. A half brother to other successful turf horses like Paradise Creek, and Forbidden Apple he obviously had speed to win a 7 furlong race, and the stamina to win a mile and a half race. Imawildandcrazyguy is Florida breed thru and thru. Second dam Din's Darling is a half sister to G1 Placed Din's Dancer who could also cover a distance of ground. Frosty Cupcake is a daughter of former Florida stallion Top Account. Top Account won the Grade 2 King's Bishop at three, it is obvious that Top Account is going to give Imawildandcrazyguy a dose of speed that his distance loving sire and second dam could possibly need. My thinking is that this colt has the recipe for a classic type horse. Distance not a question just feel his best potential finish in this race is a 4th or 5th if the top horses really fire.
OWNED BY: Lewis Pell, and Michael Eigner TRAINED: Todd Pletcher JOCKEY: Rafael Bejerano
3.) Scat Daddy: By Johannesburg - Love Style by Mr. Prospector: As I mentioned before Scat Daddy is just like he was as a two year old, being forgotten. WHY???? Grade 1 winner at two of the Champaign Stakes, this horse was given the hypothetical finger when he was left off of the Eclipse Award ballot as Champion Two Year Old. The winner of the G2 Fountain of Youth , has been as a three year old forgotten, ranking a low number seven on Haskin's Derby Dozen. He has done as much if not more than a lot of those ahead of him. Pedigree wise he is from the first crop of the talented race horse Johannesburg who is as much on fire with his three year olds as he was with two year olds. He is out of the Mr. Prospector daughter Love Style who was unraced. Scat Daddy is by far her best foal, she is also the dam of a non winner Lo Styliste. Her dam is the G1 winner Likeable Style by Nijinsky II. When asked about Scat Daddy's ability to go 2 turns. Owner James Scatuorchio said, "Even when he was a youngster, we thought he would go two turns. A lot of people looked at his pedigree and thought he was more of a sprint type, but Todd and J.J. never thought that. He's got a long stride to him and he's just a very, very, good racehorse. He definatley deserves to be a derby contender." I look for him to be ready for this one, like his owner said he is a racehorse.
OWNED: James T. Scatuorchio and Michael B. Tabor TRAINER: Todd Pletcher JOCKEY: Edgar Prado
4.) Adore The Gold: By Formal Gold - Amore E Bacci by Dixieland Band: Swale Stakes (G2) winner Adore The Gold is a handsome well made son of Formal Gold who in most cases is best remembered for defeating super horse Skip Away in the Woodward Stakes (G1), Donn H. (G1), and Phillip H. Iselin H. (G2) in which he set a NTR of 1:40 1/5. Formal Gold has been a successful sire not really having a knock out horse, maybe Adore the Gold is that horse, that will make both of them a household name. It appears that Formal Gold is a sire of sprinter-miler type horses, but I think that with Dixieland Band as a broodmare sire maybe just maybe he will be able to go the classic distance. Interesting pedigree note is that second dam Love and Affection is the dam of Yellowstone, a son of Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) who is being pointed to the European classics. Should be able to handle the distance, not sure what direction he is headed after the Fountain of Youth (G2), if he gets an uncontested lead he may hang in there. OWNED: John D. Murphy TRAINED: Mike Gorham JOCKEY: Cornelio Valasquez
5.) Stormello: By Stormy Atlantic - Wilshewed by Carson City: The beautiful and talented Stormello will turn 3 on Florida Derby day. It would be a wonderful birthday present for all included. The chestnut son of Stormy Atlantic on looking at his pedigree alone appears to be outrunning his pedigree. Stormy Atlantic never won at more than 6 furlongs, and as a sire it appears he has had more success with horses in the 6 furlong range. However he is the sire of Atlantic Ocean, who did in fact win at 9 furlongs, as well as Icy Atlantic who also has won at 9 furlongs. Wilshewed is a daughter of leading sire Carson City. Carson City as a sire is probably best remembered as a sire of Sprinters and early two year olds. However he is the broodmare sire of the immortal BARBARO (G1).
Barbaro (right) shown winning last year's Florida Derby
While Stormello's female family is full of decent black type runners he is by far the class of the family in recent times, the only other really outstanding horse to come from the female family is G1 winner Marlin. I think he will continue to outrun his pedigree. I hate even writing that, but on paper it appears that he would be a sprinter-miler type, however he is a good horse. I think he will try very hard to repeat his performance in the Fountain of Youth (G2), however he is out to win. OWNED: William L. Currin & Alvin Eisman TRAINER: William Currin JOCKEY: Victor Espinoza
6.) Chelokee: By Cherokee Run - Dixie Ghost by Silver Ghost: On looks alone this colt has everyone defeated. He is very talented with 5 starts 2 wins 2 second and 2 third. By Sprint Superstar Cherokee Run who interesting enough finished second in the Preakness Stakes, has been a great sire however looking at his best foals they seem to be in the 6.5 furlong to 7.5 furlong range. However I feel this is a moot point with this talented colt. Dixie Ghost was a G3 winner of the Just A Game Breeders Cup H., as well as G2 placed in the Long Island H. She is the dam of Mymich, who as a two year old was 3rd in the Schylerville S.(G3) and has earned over $250,000. This is another colt that has the combination of speed with stamina that I think could go ahead and win any of the classic races. I expect him to be a little green in the Florida Derby, however he will have a nice pace to run at, and could potentially do quite well. And maybe bring good memories of Barbaro's win in this race last year.
OWNED: Centennial Farms TRAINED: Michael Matz JOCKEY: Ramon Dominguez
7.) Boogie Boggs: By Dixie Union - Smokey Mirage by Holy Bull: Okay, in all honesty I don't know much about this horse. He is a son of the highly regarded stallion Dixie Union, a son of Dixieland Band. Dixie Union won the Haskell Invitation H. (G1) at three over captain Steve and Milwaukee Brew, that race at 9 furlongs was his most important win, however his win in the Malibu Stakes (G1) was his best win. As a sire he is showing the ability to produce horses who can go up to an above 8 furlongs. Boogie Boggs is out of the Holy Bull mare Smokey Mirage. A winner of $78,970, Smokey Mirage is a half sister to Florida Derby winner High Fly $927,300, Estimraar $580,00, and Velvet Rope $258,447. Don't know if he is ready for this kind of race, however he has the pedigree to handle the distance. I don't think he is going to be anything but a interesting side note in the race. OWNED: My Meadowview Farms TRAINED: Nick Zito JOCKEY: Joe Bravo
8.) Johannesburg Star: By: Johannesburg - Gammy's Alden by John Alden: Ran last in the Fountain of Youth (G2), not sure if he is able to go with this crowd. I would put some of the new shooters ahead of him. Pedigree is interesting, but in all honesty I'm not sure he really belongs here. And not sure how to interpret his pedigree. I don't know what to expect from him, possibly he will improve off the Fountain of Youth defeat. However I don't place him too high. OWNED: Bisnath Parbod TRAINED: Colin Maragh JOCKEY: R Maragh
9.) Birdbirdistheword: By Pure Prize - Berchta by Rocky Mountain: Florida bred Birdbirdistheword gets to race in his home state's biggest race. After a week or so of speculation is he going to the Blue Grass (G1) the decision was made. If you ask my honest opinion Birdbirdistheword is in this race. I think that if he was to go to the Blue Grass he is going to meet up with all the top three year olds, Street Sense, Circular Quay, etc. I think they are trying to insure that if it comes to graded earnings to get into the derby field he will have enough. I think between the two races the Florida Derby shapes up as an easier race for him to finish on the board. I like this horse, he is got a intriguing pedigree. It in a way represents Florida's blue collar bloodlines thru his mother, crossed with Kentucky's blue blooded pedigrees. Distance should not be a problem. Has the ability to win this race if he is good enough. OWNED: Raymond Cottrell Sr. TRAINED: Ken McPeek JOCKEY Manoel Cruz
I see the 56th running of the Florida Derby is going to be a good test for our top horses Scat Daddy, Stormello, Notional, and Birdbirdistheword. I hope that you will take the time to watch live streaming coverage of the race at 5:15 PM on NBCSports.com. I have to say I enjoyed my first foray as a "writer". A lot of studying and research went into this. As a Florida breeder I am going to root for the home team with Birdbirdistheword, Chelokee, and Imawildandcrazyguy, however Scat Daddy, Notional and Stormello have a lot riding on this race.
The Florida Derby is called "The Run for the Orchids". 2001 winner Monarchos seems to enjoy their scent.
Daniel Lewis is currently an assistant to FrancisVanlangendonck of Summerfield Sales. Daniel has worked with such superstar racehorses as champion Silver Charm, champion Real Quiet, champion Xtra Heat, Lion Heart, Appealing Zophie, D'Wildcat, all G1 winners, and many more. Daniel is owner/operator of Icon Bloodstock Agency. He has bred many Quarter Horse, Paint and Thoroughbred horses.
"My clients deserve an agent who focuses on honesty and integrity."
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