Favorite Audible draws an outside post for Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Holy Bull winner Audible drew post position 8 in a field of nine 3-year-olds entered for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The Grade 1 event, which has produced the winner of three of the last five renewals of the Kentucky Derby, including Always Dreaming last year, will be run as the final race on a 14-race program that begins at 11:30 a.m. Post time for the Florida Derby is listed at 6:30 p.m.

The Florida Derby is worth 170 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, 100 of which go to the winner.

There will also be a mandatory payout of the Rainbow 6 pool on Saturday, with the carryover expected to reach nearly $5 million if it is not hit on either Thursday or Friday’s card.

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Audible, the 9-5 morning line favorite, brings a three-race win streak into the Florida Derby that includes a convincing 5 1/2-length triumph in the Grade 2 Holy Bull on Feb 3. John Velazquez will replace Javier Castellano aboard Audible on Saturday. Castellano will be in Dubai to ride West Coast in the $10 million World Cup.

Audible fared poorest of the four major contenders at Wednesday’s post position draw considering the relatively short run to the first turn in races decided at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park. Horses from post 8 have won just 13 times in 169 starts at the distance since the track was reconfigured in 2006, an 8 percent success rate.

Strike Power’s connections were smiling after the lightly raced son of Speightstown got the rail for his rematch with Promises Fulfilled, whom he chased throughout before coming out second-best in the Fountain of Youth four weeks ago.

“Being in the one hole, he sure won’t be outrun by too many of them going into the first turn, so he should sort out a good trip from there,” said trainer Mark Hennig. “I certainly didn’t want to be on the outside, because that would have forced him to either sit or really gun. I think the post is perfect for him.”

Luis Saez gave up an opportunity to ride Gunnevera in the Dubai World Cup to keep his regular seat aboard Strike Power in the Florida Derby.

The remainder of the Florida Derby field is Millionaire Runner (post 2), Jose Batista to ride; Tip Sheet (3), Edgard Zayas; Promises Fulfilled (4), Robby Albarado; Storm Runner (5), Tyler Gaffalione; Catholic Boy (6), Irad Ortiz Jr.; Hofburg (7), Jose Ortiz; and Mississippi (9), Julien Leparoux.

Trainer Jonathan Thomas said post 6 was about as far out as he would have felt comfortable with Remsen winner Catholic Boy.

“I would have been worried with anything wider than that, but anything from post 6 on in should be fine,” said Thomas.

The Catholic Boy ownership group, which already included Robert LaPenta and Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables LLC, grew over the last 96 hours with the addition of Anthony Manganaro’s Siena Farms.

“Mr. Manganaro also bought into Always Dreaming last year, and he’s someone who I have a great amount of respect for,” said Thomas. “He has a tremendous read on horses and it made me feel really good that he had this kind of confidence in this horse.”

Kumin will have two rooting interests in Saturday’s Florida Derby, as his Head of Plains Partners has also bought into Holy Bull winner Audible. That was part of a deal with WinStar Farm that also includes Justify, who is pointing to the Arkansas Derby on April 14.

“It gives you two shots at a million bucks and two shots at getting to the [Kentucky] Derby,” said Kumin who also owns part-interest in Kentucky Derby prospect My Boy Jack.

“I hope they run 1-2 so they both get into the Derby.”

– additional reporting by David Grening