Fierceness draws outside post, made morning-line favorite for Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – If there is any consolation for trainer Todd Pletcher after his 8-5 morning-line favorite Fierceness drew post position 10 for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, it’s the fact the reigning juvenile champion will break one spot closer to the rail than his 1-5 favorite Forte did in the important Kentucky Derby prep here one year ago.

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby will be run as the finale on a 14-race program with first post at 11:30 a.m. Eastern.

Forte had to work hard and ultimately be much the best to overcome his outside draw in the 2023 Florida Derby, rallying to a one-length victory over Mage, who ultimately used the race as a steppingstone to his upset victory in the Kentucky Derby five weeks later.

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Outside posts are statistically a major disadvantage in races decided at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park. Horses breaking from post 10 have won just five of 75 starts (7 percent) at the distance since the track was re-figured 15 years ago. Post 9 is even worse, yielding just two winners from 105 starters (2 percent) over the same period. Conquest Warrior, the second choice at 3-1 on the morning-line, will break from post 9 on Saturday.

“Normally I’d be afraid of the outside post, but Forte won from the 11 last year, so you can overcome that,” Pletcher said. “Gulfstream two-turn races are very tricky. That’s why I think the start is very important, getting away cleanly. What happens in these two-turns races, jockeys are so conscious of having to get to the first turn and get position it can get a little rough leaving the gate sometimes.”

Fierceness certainly had his best chances compromised last out, when knocked around at the start of the Grade 3 Holy Bull, where he finished a disappointing third as the odds-on favorite. Hades was a two-length winner over Domestic Product, who flattered the event with a win in the Tampa Bay Derby five weeks later. Fierceness is one of two 3-year-olds Pletcher entered in the Florida Derby for owner Mike Repole along with last out maiden winner Bail Us Out.

John Velazquez will keep his regular seat on Fierceness with Irad Ortiz Jr. tabbed to handle Bail Us Out, who is favorably drawn in post three.

Hades, who is undefeated in three starts, is also well drawn for his rematch with Fierceness. He will break from post two with regular rider Paco Lopez aboard once again for trainer Joe Orseno.

“We’re really happy with the post,” Orseno said minutes after the draw. “From there we can kind of dictate what we want to do, we can put him in good position. I’d definitely rather be there than parked way on the outside.”

The remainder of the field from the rail out includes Frankie’s Empire (Miguel Vasquez); Grand Mo the First (Emisael Jaramillo); Real Macho (Javier Castellano); Le Dom Bro (Edwin Gonzalez); Catalytic (Julien Leparoux); Seminole Chief (Joel Rosario); Conquest Warrior (Jose Ortiz); and Iris’s Dream (Jorge Ruiz).

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