Coast to coast, Florida Derby hopefuls go through final preps

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Four prospective starters for the $1 million Florida Derby turned in their final works for that important Kentucky Derby prep Saturday.

The group, working at three different venues on two different coasts, included Audible and Promises Fulfilled, winners of the Holy Bull and Fountain of Youth stakes, respectively, earlier this winter at Gulfstream Park.

Audible, the likely favorite for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, went 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 work partner.

“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 two 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," trainer Dale Romans said. "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 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 in the Fountain of Youth, in contrast to Promises Fulfilled zipped five furlongs in 59.17 in more conventional style from the five-eighths pole, 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.”

Several hours later, Florida Derby outsider Fire When Ready worked six furlongs in 1:14.60 at Santa Anita, according to trainer Bob Hess.

Purchased privately by Looch Racing Stable following his maiden win under a $30,000 claiming tag and in his 2-year-old finale, Fire When Ready is coming off a fourth-place finish in the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita.

“He tucked in behind two other workers, slipped up the rail and finished well,” Hess said. He’s still green, but he looks like a two-turn horse.”

Fire When Ready will fly to south Florida on Monday with Albin Jimenez to have the mount Saturday.

Catholic Boy, who will have his final Florida Derby work here Sunday, Strike Power and Tip Sheet, both of whom breezed at Gulfstream Park on Friday, and Millionaire Runner are the others expected to be in the box when entries for the Grade 1 Florida Derby are drawn Wednesday.

Turf specialist Speed Franco is also under consideration for the race.

Machismo, a troubled fourth in the Fountain of Youth, also worked here Saturday, going five furlongs in company in 1:00.81 with jockey Robby Albarado aboard. Machismo completed his final quarter in 23.31 while sharply roused upon settling into the stretch, readily pulling away from his over-matched stablemate Eight Thirty One, who scratched from Saturday’s Any Limit Stakes to compete in the Gulfstream Oaks.

Machismo, like Fire When Ready, is owned by Looch Racing and is being pointed to the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 7.

“I’d have loved to have made the Florida Derby with him, but we missed a work because he got stepped on by Marconi leaving the starting gate, grabbed a quarter in the Fountain of Youth, and needed some extra time,” owner Ron Paolucci said.