The Florida Derby is the track's most important Kentucky Derby trial. Taking place 5 weeks before the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Curlin Florida Derby is the $1,000,000 centrepiece of a great day's racing.
Run at a distance of 1 1/8m, on the dirt track; winners have had a fair bit of success in the first leg of the Triple Crown but the last duel Florida-Kentucky Derby winner was Orb in 2013. (Last year's winner, below, was White Abarrio.) This run might change as the Florida Derby field is likely to boast North America's highest rated three year-old in this renewal.
Todd Pletcher's Forte is favourite for the $1-million G1 Curlin Florida Derby. Pletcher said of the 2 year old champion racehorse, "He's very happy and moving well". Forte is looking strong off the back of his impressive win in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (see below), having destroyed a high quality field including Holy Bull winner, Rocket Can.
Florida Derby day at GP has a fantastic all-round racecard. Supporting races include the G2 Gulfstream Oaks, the G2 mile-and-a-half Pan American Stakes, three Grade 3 Stakes (Orchid, Ghostzapper, Appleton) and four further competitive races (two turf and two dirt).
