Saturday is the million-dollar Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. No prep race has produced more Kentucky Derby winners than the Florida Derby, including four of the last 10.
The Florida Derby will award qualifying points toward the Run for the Roses on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the top five finishers.
Here is a brief look at the field of nine:
1. ALBUS [ML 20-1] Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Trainer: Riley Mott. Took a nice step forward in his third start to earn his first victory, powering to a 6 ¾-length romp in a one mile and 40-yard race in February at Tampa Bay Downs. He has tactical speed and should be prominent early in the Florida Derby along with multiple speedy entrants. Elite jockey, Gaffalione picks up the mount.
2. CHIEF WALLABEE [ML 2-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: Bill Mott. Won on debut in a January 10th sprint here. He made his Stakes debut in the Fountain of Youth February 28th and rallied gamely from off the pace but came up a neck short after a thrilling battle through the Gulfstream stretch. His pedigree indicates he should relish more distance as he stretches out to 1 1/8 miles. He’s a major win candidate for the Hall of Fame trainer.
3. WAYNE’S LAW [ML 15-1] Jockey: Marcos Meneses. Trainer: Amador Sanchez. He has a Stakes win at Gulfstream Park, dominating the one-mile Aventura Stakes by 7 ¾ lengths as a 2-year-old in September 2025 before closing out his juvenile season with a third in the Jean Lafitte Stakes in November at Delta Downs. He returned from a 2 ½-month layoff to finish 2nd in the Sam F. Davis Stakes February 7th at Tampa Bay. Seems likely to improve in his second start after the layoff.
4. COMMANDMENT [ML 5-2] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Brad Cox. The bay colt carries a three-race winning streak into the Florida Derby and profiles as a top win candidate with elite speed figures and back-to-back Stakes victories on the main track at Gulfstream. He overwhelmed six opponents in a 6 ¾-length runaway in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes and then out finished CHIEF WALLABEE by a neck after a dream inside trip in the Fountain of Youth Stakes.
5. REDLAND REBELS [ML 15-1] Jockey: Joel Rosario. Trainer: Patrick Biancone. This colt is cross entered in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby Saturday at Oaklawn Park and will reportedly run in that race instead of the Florida Derby.
6. NEARLY [ML 3-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Has not raced since dominating the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes by 5 ¾ lengths January 31st on the main track at Gulfstream Park. He has been working steadily for this race since the Holy Bull. He’s fast, well-bred, and his tactical speed makes him formidable for eight-time Florida Derby-winning trainer and a six-time Florida Derby winning rider.
7. TIMELESS VICTORY [ML 20-1] Jockey: Jose Morelos. Trainer: Eddis Plesa Jr. Won an Allowance-optional claiming race at this track and 1 1/8-mile distance by six lengths in his most recent start on March 1st. He will need to improve significantly in the Florida Derby. He was unplaced and well-beaten in his lone previous Stakes try, albeit that was on the turf, and he must boost his speed figures by 10-15 points to be in the mix for a top three finish.
8. THE PUMA [ML 9-2] Jockey: Javier Castellano. Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. Needed three starts to break his Maiden but he did so in style with a victory in the Tampa Bay Derby March 7th. He very likely earned sufficient qualifying points to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby field with his game Tampa Bay Derby win, but his connections felt another prep race would benefit the lightly raced colt.
9. GREGARIOUS [ML 50-1] Jockey: Rajiv Maragh. Trainer: Jose Castro. Ran 2nd in his lone previous start February 21st at this track and 1 1/8-miles. He would need to boost his Speed Figure by about 25 points while stepping up to Stakes competition for the first time in a major Kentucky Derby prep race. A key component in shaping the pace of the race. Know him early.
The Florida Derby is the final race on a huge card of 14, with a scheduled Post Time of 6:45.
Best of luck however you play it.
