2006 Florida Derby @ Gulfstream Park

Stakes - For Thoroughbred 3-yr-old Distance: 1 1/8 miles on dirt Purse: $1,000,000

With the 132st Kentucky Derby 2006 just a few weeks away, Triple Crown contenders are making their final preparations. Having said this, prep races for the Kentucky Derby are drawing critical attention, but the Florida Derby remains one of the most anticipated prep races having sent 19 victories to Churchill Downs throughout the race's history.

The Florida Derby, happens April 1, 2006 at Gulfstream Park, is a Grade I race for top 3-year-old thoroughbred horses in America, 9-furlong (1.1/2 miles) run and a $1 million purse up for grabs.

Undefeated horse and one of the top Kentucky Derby contenders, Barbaro, is likely to headline the race on Saturday. Barbaro captured the Tropical Park Derby and Holy Bull Stakes earlier this year.

The Florida Derby stakes debuted at Gulfstream Park in 1952, in time with the race track's expansion. The next year the derby purse was raised to $100,000 making it the first stakes event so richly endowed in the Sunshine State. It was in 1957, in a historic race where Gen. Duke equaled the world record 1:46 4/5 and defeating Bold Ruler, that the Florida Derby was established as a major stepping stone to the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown trail. The race continued to rise in popularity over the next years, along with it the significant increase in the race's purse. Standing at $1 million today, the Florida Derby is still one of the richest horse racing stakes.

The field, from the rail out:

PP Horse Jockey Odds

1- Hesanoldsalt  Eddie Castro, 20-1
2- Flashy Bull  Rafael Bejarano, 4-1
3- Saint Augustus  Chris DeCarlo, 12-1
4- Doc Cheney  Jeremy Rose, 12-1
5- Sunriver  John Velazquez, 6-1
6- Rehobeth  Javier Castellano, 20-1
7- Sharp Humor  Mark Guidry, 5-1
8- High Blues  Cornelio Velasquez, 10-1
9- Charming Image  Rajiv Maragh, 20-1
10- Barbaro  Edgar Prado, 8-5
11- Sam’s Ace  Felipe Martinez, 20-1