Catholic Boy impresses among weekend Florida Derby workers

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – A field of nine 3-year-olds now seems likely when entries are drawn for the $1 million Florida Derby late Wednesday morning following a busy weekend of workouts throughout the South Florida area.

Catholic Boy, who has done the majority of his training for the Grade 1 Florida Derby at Bridlewood Farm in Ocala, shipped to Gulfstream Park to work an impressive-looking half-mile in 48.65 seconds in company with stablemate Eagle Pass on Sunday. Catholic Boy actually broke off at the five-eighths pole about three to four lengths behind his partner, but just cruised an opening furlong in 14.08 before the work officially began at the half-mile marker. Catholic Boy eased up on his target after a 24.48 opening quarter split then readily drew away through the final furlong, steadily increasing his advantage while galloping out a solid five furlongs, off the rail, in 1:01.55 over a track that appeared to be somewhat on the cuppy side throughout the morning.

“We designed the work for him to be going faster through the stretch than he started and it worked out perfectly,” trainer Jonathan Thomas said. “He was a little keener earlier than normal, but that’s not a bad thing. It means he’s sharp and on his toes, and I thought he was moving super throughout. He came back well, he cooled out quickly, and did all the things you look for them to do. We were pleased.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. will replace Manny Franco aboard Remsen winner Catholic Boy for the Florida Derby.

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

Trainer Mark Casse pronounced Mississippi a Florida Derby candidate after his easy half-mile in 49.45 at Palm Meadows on Sunday. Mississippi has not started since finishing second, beaten a neck by Storm Runner, in a Feb. 4 allowance race here. Regular rider Julien Leparoux will have the mount.

Both Holy Bull winner Audible and Fountain of Youth hero Promises Fulfilled turned in their final Florida Derby preps Saturday.

Audible, the likely favorite for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, worked four furlongs in 49.19 in company with stablemate Vino Rosso at Palm Beach Downs, the winter home for trainer Todd Pletcher’s potent stable. Audible, working nearest the rail, had to be put to urging through the final furlong to keep pace with his easier-going mate.

“I thought it was a standard Audible work,” Pletcher said. “He’s not an overzealous work horse, but I thought he put in a nice 49 on a track not playing overly fast and galloped out with some enthusiasm. I thought he’s training consistently with the way he trained up to the Holy Bull and his other races and seems like he’s coming up to the Florida Derby in good order.”

Promises Fulfilled was one of two Florida Derby prospects to work at Gulfstream Park on Saturday along with stablemate Storm Runner. Promises Fulfilled was the second of the pair to work, breezing an easy five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:02.05 before galloping out three-quarters of a mile in 1:15.04.

“I thought he worked beautifully. He was moving good. He just went nice and easy in the last work before the race. I think he’s three lengths away from being the favorite for the Derby right now,” said Romans, referring to the troubled trip Promises Fulfilled had in the Kentucky Jockey Club. “He’d be 4 for 4, which he very much should have been.”

Storm Runner, victim of an eventful trip of his own in the Fountain of Youth, in contrast to Promises Fulfilled zipped five furlongs in 59.17 in more conventional style, breaking off at the five-eighths pole and completing the drill at the wire, before galloping out six panels in 1:12.80 with exercise rider Tammy Fox up.

“I thought he worked well, and Tammy gave me the thumbs-up,” Romans said. “She was impressed.”

Three other Florida Derby contenders, Fountain of Youth runner-up Strike Power as well as outsiders Tip Sheet and Speed Franco, worked Friday. Speed Franco, a Grade 3 winner on turf, had his name thrown in the mix for the key Kentucky Derby prep by trainer Gustavo Delgado after working five furlongs in 1:00.40 over the main track at Gulfstream Park West. Speed Franco has made all five of his career starts on grass.

Delgado has not yet named a rider for Speed Franco. His regular jockey, Emisael Jaramillo, will be in Dubai on Saturday to ride X Y Jet in the Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Trainer Jaime Mejia has told track officials he plans to enter Millionaire Runner, winner of just 1 of 10 starts and a distant seventh behind Catholic Boy in the Remsen, in the Florida Derby.