Audible a big part of Pletcher's embarrassment of riches

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Todd Pletcher came to South Florida this winter with a bevy of unproven commodities in the 3-year-old division. He will leave here in a few weeks for Churchill Downs with a strong portfolio of contenders for the 144th Kentucky Derby.

Eight weeks after winning the Grade 2 Holy Bull by 5 1/2 lengths on Feb. 3, Audible turned in an equally strong effort in winning the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby by three lengths. It was his fourth consecutive victory, and the 100 qualifying points he earned for the victory confirmed his place in the starting gate May 5.

“The Holy Bull, it was kind of hard to be much more impressive than he was that day, but the key yesterday was that he proved that a mile and an eighth is no issue and gives you confidence he’ll stay the distance,” said Pletcher, who won the Florida Derby for the fourth time in the last five years and fifth time overall. “It was another step in the forward direction.”

Audible, a New York-bred son of Into Mischief, earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure for the Florida Derby, where he ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.48. That was the same figure he earned for winning the Holy Bull.

Audible joins Magnum Moon and Noble Indy as 3-year-olds Pletcher will take to the Kentucky Derby. Noble Indy won a maiden race at Gulfstream by 8 3/4 lengths on Dec. 3, the second day of the meet, and has won three of four starts, including the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby. He will train up to the Kentucky Derby.

“I don’t mind the six weeks at all,” Pletcher said.

Magnum Moon didn’t debut until Jan 13, winning a six-furlong maiden race by 4 1/2 lengths. He has since won twice more, including an eye-catching victory in the Grade 2 Rebel on March 17 at Oaklawn Park. Magnum Moon will run in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 14.

“Just hope he maintains his form,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher definitely will have two, and perhaps three, more chances to add to his Derby bounty. Vino Rosso, third in the Sam. F. Davis Stakes and fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby, is scheduled to run in Saturday’s Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

Marconi, third in the Withers and fifth in the Fountain of Youth, will run next in either the Wood or Blue Grass at Keeneland the same day. Lastly, Navistar, second in an allowance at Oaklawn on March 18, could run in the Arkansas Derby or Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

Meanwhile, two other horses from the Florida Derby will be considered for the Kentucky Derby. Hofburg, who was coming out of a maiden victory on March 3, rallied from eighth to finish second by 7 3/4 lengths over Mississippi on Saturday. Bill Mott, who trains Hofburg for Juddmonte Farms, said he was pleased but not surprised by Hofburg’s performance.

“If he had won, that wouldn’t have surprised me either,” Mott said.

Mott said he would consider running Hofburg, who now has 40 qualifying points, in the Kentucky Derby “only if we think it’s the thing to do.”

Promises Fulfilled still will be considered for the Kentucky Derby despite his last-place finish in the Florida Derby. Promises Fulfilled earned enough qualifying points to make the Kentucky Derby field by winning the Fountain of Youth.

In the Florida Derby, Promises Fulfilled was prompted by Strike Power early and ran an opening quarter in 21.95 seconds and a half-mile in 46.37 before beginning to retreat.

“We’re going to keep moving forward,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I told Robby [Albarado] to go to the lead. Live by the sword, die by the sword. He came out of the race in good shape.”

Promises Fulfilled left Gulfstream Park on a van bound for Churchill Downs on Sunday morning along with Gulfstream Park Oaks winner Coach Rocks, who will be pointed to the Kentucky Oaks.

Catholic Boy, who finished a disappointing fourth in the Florida Derby, bled in the race, according to John Panagot, racing manager for co-owner Robert LaPenta.

“Unfortunately, he bled a significant amount,” Panagot said. “We’re going to have to stop on him and let him heal.”

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis