NEWS

Different types of favorites for Florida Derby

Posted: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 5:11 PM

RULE

Coady Photography

by Mike Curry

This year’s $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) figures to have a pair of distinct favorites with multiple graded stakes winner Rule a safe choice to be the betting favorite and Lentenor an obvious sentimental favorite.

Rule has reeled off four consecutive victories for trainer Todd Pletcher and owner-breeder WinStar Farm. The Roman Ruler colt enters the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby off an impressive three-length victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) on February 13 (video).

The Florida Derby drew 11 three-year-olds, none of whom has the credentials or graded stakes earnings that Rule boasts entering the race, which was moved ahead a week on the schedule and is six weeks out from the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

Rule capped his two-year-old season with consecutive wins in the Jean Lafitte Stakes (video) and $750,000 Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (G3) (video), both at Delta Downs. He is out of the Personal Flag mare Rockcide, a half sister to dual classic winner and 2003 champion three-year-old male Funny Cide. Regular rider John Velazquez has the call for the Florida Derby.

The field for the Derby is limited to 20 starters with preference given to horses with the most career earnings in graded stakes. Rule’s $570,000 in graded earnings ranks fifth among contenders for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s homebred Lentenor, on the other hand, will make his stakes debut in the Florida Derby for trainer Michael Matz.

The three-year-old Dynaformer colt is a full brother to 2006 Florida Derby winner Barbaro, whose subsequent 6 1/2-length romp in the Kentucky Derby was the largest margin of victory in 60 years. Barbaro’s career was tragically cut short when he shattered his right hind limb in the opening stages of the Preakness Stakes (G1). He was euthanized in January 2007 from complications of laminitis after he had developed a loyal and broad legion of fans that also have closely followed the careers of Barbaro’s siblings.

“We felt that it was either going to be here or the Wood [Memorial Stakes (G1)],” Matz said. “The Jacksons wanted to give him a shot and he has to be first or second if he wants to qualify [for the Derby]. He’s been training well and we’re going to give him one shot.”

Lentenor has won one of two starts this season and has finished in the top three in each of his four career races. He won a maiden special weight race going 1 1/16 miles on the turf by 3 1/2 lengths on January 20 at Gulfstream. He enters the Florida Derby off a runner-up finish, beaten by a half-length, in a 1 1/8-mile turf allowance race on February 17.

“His last race, I was disappointed he lost, but on the other hand when I looked at the fractions and what they ran the last three eighths of a mile, they ran quite fast the last three eighths,” Matz said. “I was pretty pleased with the race. He’s come out of each race better than he went in, so it’s just a matter of experience. With the Gulfstream Florida Derby six weeks out, it’s a little bit further than I’d like, but on the other hand it gives him some time to mature.

“The biggest part is that the horse hasn’t matured to his full potential yet, so he needs some more time but we’re going to give him one shot and see what happens.”

Matz said Lentenor has progressed nicely in recent weeks and he was especially happy with a bullet five-furlong breeze in 1:00 at Palm Meadows Training Center on Monday under Alan Garcia, who will be aboard in the Florida Derby after Velazquez rode him in his two most recent races.

“Alan Garcia came up and worked him on Monday and he worked very well. Sometimes I think it’s a different ballgame when they go a mile and an eighth and a mile and a quarter, and we certainly know through the breeding of this family that the distance is not a problem. We felt like we’d to give him one shot here and if he isn’t first or second then we make another plan to go where we want to.

“I see him every day and my assistant, Peter [Brette], had to go back to England for ten days because his father died, and when he came back he said he thought the horse had filled out quite a bit even in the ten days that he hadn’t seen him.”

The Florida Derby also drew English Group 2 winner Radiohead (GB), who won his first start on dirt by 3 1/4 lengths on February 27 in a one-mile Gulfstream allowance.

Completing the field are Grade 1-placed winner Pulsion and Grade 3-placed winner Soaring Empire as well as Ice Box, Game On Dude, Miner’s Reserve, Best Actor, First Dude, and Pleasant Prince.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor

Florida Derby