Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado are really enjoying their Saturdays in South Florida this winter. One week after this team Won the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes with ART COLLECTOR, the trainer/jockey combo chalked up another Gulfstream Saturday success on February 4th. This triumph was the $250,000 Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes. ROCKET CAN, a gray son of INTO MISCHIEF, prevailed by three-quarters of … Continue reading ROCKET CAN Could
The road to the 2023 Kentucky Derby begins its Florida swing on Saturday with the $250,000 dollar, Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Inaugurated in 1990 as the Preview Stakes, the race was renamed in 1996 to honor the recently-retired 1994 Horse of the Year HOLY BULL, who captured the Florida Derby (G1) for one of his major stakes Wins at Gulfstream. The Holy Bull … Continue reading The Holy Bull Stakes
There are no Derby prep races this weekend. But, the 100-40-20-10 point preps are at hand- eight races compressed into 15 days, beginning next Saturday (03/26). As long as they are eligible (aka not Baffert horses), the Winners are mathematically assured of berths in the starting gate in the Run For The Roses. The 2nd-place horses have a good shot at getting there as well. … Continue reading Where The Winners Prep
Poplar jockey Manuel Franco tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and will remain off his mounts until Sunday, January 9th, the New York Racing Association announced Wednesday. All members of the NYRA jockey colony are vaccinated and adhere to established protocols. In addition, the jockey quarters at Aqueduct have been substantially altered to provide maximum physical distancing and reduce density. Franco is best remembered for … Continue reading Covid Scratches Jockey
Only one Kentucky Derby in the 21st century has been run without a horse trained by Todd Pletcher. This year won’t be the second. The two-time Kentucky Derby-Winning conditioner made his way back to the Run For The Roses this past Saturday when Florida-bred KNOWN AGENDA finished strong to Win the Grade 1, $750,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. By doing so he collects 100 qualifying points … Continue reading Top Of The Agenda
A field of 11 will contest the $750,000 Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. This group of 3-year-olds will use this nine-furlong Stake Race as their last chance to accumulate qualifying points for the 2021 Kentucky Derby. With the highest points available (100-40-20-10) on the Derby Trail, the top two finishers are likely to qualify. 1) NOVA RAGS [ML 12-1] Trainer: Bill Mott. Jockey: Junior Alvarado. … Continue reading AGENDA For The Florida Derby
Saturday’s $750,000 dollar, Grade 1 Florida Derby is the marquee race during the winter-spring meet at Gulfstream Park, as well as a crucial prep race for the Kentucky Derby. The 1 1/8-mile race offers a total of 170 qualifying points for the 147th Run For The Roses on May 1st at Churchill Downs. The point distribution is a 100-40-20-10 scale, awarded to the the top four … Continue reading It’s Florida Derby Time
