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| Adam Coglianese |
| Ice Box |
The top three finishers from Saturday's $750,000 Florida Derby came out of their races in good order and will now set their sights on the May 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, their connections said Sunday. Ice Box, Pleasant Prince, and Rule will all run in the Derby without having another prep race, meaning they will have six weeks between races.
Left alone on the front end in the Grade 2, $150,000 Santa Ana Handicap on Sunday at Santa Anita, Tuscan Evening turned on the jets down the stretch and scored a front-running, 1 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile grass race for older fillies and mares.
Sunday's first race at Aqueduct was canceled when the six horses scheduled to run were not brought over to the race-day security barn. The New York State Racing and Wagering Board fined the six trainers involved in the boycotted race $500 apiece.
Due to the Calder stable area quarantine, Gulfstream Park will run an abbreviated eight-race program on Sunday with post time for the first race set for 1:44 p.m.
Trainer Nick Zito knew Ice Box was a much better horse than his fifth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth indicated. He proved that point Saturday at Gulfstream Park when Ice Box rallied from last and outfinished fellow longshot Pleasant Prince by a nose to capture the $750,000 Florida Derby and in the process earn himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby on May 1.
D' Funnybone confirmed his status as the best 3-year-old sprinter in the country with a relatively easy 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Devil May Care, a Grade 1 winner in her second career start, rebounded from a disappointing 3-year-old debut with a 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday's Grade 2, $200,000 Bonnie Miss Stakes at Gulfstream Park.
Hot Dixie Chick, an Eclipse Award finalist last year at 2, ran to her 1-5 odds on Saturday, when she easily won her first start in more than six months in the $60,000 Prima Donna at Oaklawn Park.
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