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56th Florida Derby 2007. Revenge Is Written All Over
By GREG MELIKOV
Three of the top four finishers in the Fountain of Youth (FOY) Stakes renew rivalries Saturday in the 56th running of the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Scat Daddy and Stormello, noses apart March 3, haven’t scared away competition. The absence of Nobiz Like Shobiz may be the reason. The son of Alfred the Great, beaten odds-on favorite in the FOY another half-length back in third, opted for the Wood Memorial on April 7 at Aqueduct.
The 10 likely starters in Gulfstream’s showcase race would comprise the 14th double-digit field since Snow Chief defeated 15 others in 1986.
Adore the Gold, a half-length behind Nobiz Like Shobiz, is looking for revenge after his fourth place finish. The son of Formal Gold ducked to the outside at the FOY break and was used to gain position.
He tracked gutsy Stormello with Nobiz Like Shobiz and Scat Daddy behind him. Then he challenged for the lead on the far turn, almost looked Stormello in the eye and battled to the wire before weakening slightly.
There’s also a new, top contender in town, Hallandale Beach, shipping in from California: Notional.
The son of In Excess is undefeated this year and goes for No. 3 in a row at a different track. On Jan. 13, he won the San Rafael by four lengths at Santa Anita and captured the Risen Star by 2 ¼ lengths on Feb. 10 at Fair Grounds.
Notional also wants revenge following his sixth place finish behind Stormello in the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 16 after losing by only 2 ½ lengths. Add Stormello to the revenge list as he hopes to turn the tables on Scat Daddy after becoming sixth 3-year-old to lose the FOY by a nose since the inaugural in ’45.
If either prevails, the winner would become the sixth coast-to-coast runner to perform the feat since Correlation in ’54. After Snow Chief scored 21 years ago, the charismatic colt captured the Preakness gaining revenge for failing to hit the board in the Kentucky Derby.
Several other confirmed starters that raced on the FOY card are Chelokee, victorious in an allowance contest; Bold Start, runner-up to King of the Roxy in the Hutcheson; and Boogie Boggs, second in an allowance race.
The most exciting Florida Derby I’ve seen in person was in ’95 pitting favored Suave Prospect against Thunder Gulch. It was a rematch following their exciting duel in the Fountain of Youth that Thunder Gulch won by a neck when the distance was 1 1/16 miles. The winner paid a handsome $11.40.
In the Florida Derby, Suave Prospect was part of a three-horse entry that was favored over Thunder Gulch on my birthday, March 11. Jerry Bailey, back aboard Suave Prospect, was hotter than the summer South
Florida heat and his horses scored repeatedly. Mike Smith returned on Thunder Gulch.
Both horses stalked the pacesetters to the far turn. Then Bailey gunned Suave Prospect from fourth to the lead in the upper stretch by 1 ½ lengths. Under strong handling, Thunder Gulch closed the gap, wore down Suave Prospect and prevailed by a nose.
However, Bailey set the record on my 60th birthday for most victories by a jockey in a Gulfstream afternoon – seven.
After finishing a disappointing fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes, Thunder Gulch went off at 25-1 and, with Gary Stevens aboard, edged Tejano Run, ridden by Bailey, in the 121st Kentucky Derby.
Suave Prospect, with Julie Krone in the irons, ran 11th after a very wide trip, followed by Talkin Man, ridden by Smith.
Greg Melikov has been handicapping and writing about horses for decades. His articles and columns appear in print and on the Internet around the world. Greg is a retired newspaperman who became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, his favorite horse, whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park.
Greg Melikov has been handicapping and writing about horses for decades. His articles and columns appear in print and on the Internet around the world. Greg is a retired newspaperman who became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, his favorite horse, whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park.
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