Florida Derby draws seven
A field of seven 3-year-olds has been entered for Saturday's $1,000,000 Florida Derby to be run at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park.
The 9-5 morning-line favorite in the race is Empire Maker who drew post six and will be ridden by Jerry Bailey. Empire Maker is trained by Bobby Frankel who just scored an upset victory in last weekend's Louisiana Derby with Peace Rules. Empire Maker has won one of his three lifetime starts to date, and has stakes placings in both last month's restricted Sham Stakes at Santa Anita and last fall's Remsen-G3 at Aqueduct.
Empire Maker's top competition should come from morning-line second choice Trust N Luck. Trust N Luck, trained by Ralph Ziadie, is listed at 2-1 and will break from the rail with regular rider Cornelio Velasquez abaord. Trust N Luck comes into the Florida Derby off an impressive five-length win in last month's Grade 1 Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream.
The field will be completed by Supah Blitz, Midway Cat, Indy Dancer, Senor Swinger, and Formal Attire.
The Florida Derby will be the eighth race on Gulfstream's 12-race Saturday card. Post time is set for 4:18 Eastern time.
THE FLORIDA DERBY (Grade 1) $1,000,000 Guaranteed Three-Year-Olds 1 1/8 Miles
| PP | HORSE | WT | TRAINER | JOCKEY | ODDS |
| 1 | TRUST N LUCK | 122 | R. Ziadie | C. Velasquez | 2-1 |
| 2 | SUPAH BLITZ | 122 | M. Tortora | R. Homeister Jr. | 8-1 |
| 3 | MIDWAY CAT | 122 | R. Hiles | J. Chavez | 5-1 |
| 4 | INDY DANCER | 122 | T. Pletcher | J. Velazquez | 10-1 |
| 5 | SENOR SWINGER | 122 | M. Goldfine | E. Prado | 6-1 |
| 6 | EMPIRE MAKER | 122 | B. Frankel | J. Bailey | 9-5 |
| 7 | FORMAL ATTIRE | 122 | P. Serpe | E. Coa | 12-1 |