Florida Derby down to 9 horses
HALLANDALE BEACH (AP) – Unbeaten Dunkirk and Fountain of Youth winner Quality Road are among the nine horses entered Wednesday in Florida Derby, one of the biggest preps for the Kentucky Derby.
Dunkirk, who wasn’t raced as a 2-year-old and is 2-for-2 this year over the Gulfstream Park surface, drew the fourth position. That’s two spots outside Quality Road, who announced himself as a contender for Triple Crown season with a convincing four-length win in the Fountain of Youth a month ago.
The field took a bit of hit Wednesday when Beethoven – thought by many at one time as a strong Triple Crown series hopeful – was deemed out of Saturday’s race because of a tendon injury.
The full field, from the rail, is composed of Toby The Coal Man, Quality Road, Casey’s On Call, Dunkirk, Sincero, Theregoesjojo, Danger to Society, Europe and Stately Character. All will carry 122 pounds in the $750,000 race, run at a mile-and-an-eighth, or one furlong short of the Kentucky Derby distance.
Dunkirk’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, said on a conference call Tuesday before the Florida Derby draw that trying to win a race like this in a horse’s third career start is daunting. Yet he also sounded confident Dunkirk could pull it off.
Europe is also a Pletcher-trainee, and was entered to set the pace – trying to give Dunkirk an edge over Quality Road.
Beethoven, the winner of the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, likely would have been a favorite in the Florida Derby.