Kentucky-breds Chief Wallabee and Commandment headline the field for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on Saturday, March 28, at Gulfstream Park. The 75th running of the 1 1/8-mile fixture offers 200 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 2. The top five finishers receive points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.
A Kentucky homebred for Michael and Katherine Ball, Chief Wallabee, has been installed as the narrow 2-1 morning-line favorite in the Florida Derby. He will break from post position No. 2 under Junior Alvarado. Chief Wallabee rallied from far back to lose by a neck to Commandment in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on Feb. 28. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who is seeking his first win in the Florida Derby, trains Chief Wallabee. Mott finished second in the Florida Derby last year with Sovereignty. That Godolphin homebred went on to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) and the Belmont S. (G1).
Commandment Seeks Back-to-Back Graded Scores
Wathnan Racing’s Commandment, the winner of the Fountain of Youth, is next on the morning-line at 5-2. Trained by Brad Cox, the son of Into Mischief won the Mucho Macho Man Stakes by 6 ¾ lengths. He defeated Chief Wallabee in winning the Fountain of Youth last time out. Tappan Street bested Sovereignty in last year’s Florida Derby, giving Cox his first win in the race. Flavien Prat will ride Commandment, who will start from post position No. 4, and was bred in the Bluegrass by Lee Pokoik.
OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing’s The Puma won the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his most recent outing. Trained by Gustavo Delgado, the Kentucky-bred will be ridden by Javier Castellano. The Puma worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 at Gulfstream Park on March 21. He will start from post position No. 8. Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn bred The Puma.
Additional Kentucky-breds to round out the Florida Derby field include Albus, Timeless Victory, and Gregarious.