Gulfstream Park: Cairo Prince has easy Florida Derby drill

Four potential Florida Derby starters worked at Palm Meadows on Saturday, topped by Cairo Prince, who breezed an easy half-mile in 50.90. He was joined on the Palm Meadows tab by Constitution (four furlongs in 49.30), Spot (bullet half-mile in 47.70) and Matador (five-eighths in 1:01).

Kiaran McLaughlin, trainer of Cairo Prince, said: “I told the rider to go in 49 to 50, no big deal. The track was a little dry, a little dull. We’re there, we’re happy. I just want to get there. We worked every week, even one more than I planned, just because he was doing so well. He’s happy. We’re happy.”

[Clocker Reports: Get Mike Welsch’s clocker reports from Gulfstream Park and Palm Meadows]

McLaughlin said he has reserved a spot on an April 2 flight to New York for the Wood Memorial as a back-up plan if he decides not to run Cairo Prince in the Florida Derby. McLaughlin said the forecast for Florida Derby week is “rain, rain, rain.”

“We’re hopeful it doesn’t have to come to that,” said McLaughlin of sending Cairo Prince to Aqueduct.
Only six horses are confirmed for the Florida Derby. They are: Cairo Prince, Wildcat Red, Constitution, Spot, Matador, and General a Rod, who is scheduled to work at Gulfstream on Sunday.

Trainer Dale Romans also worked his two top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream on Saturday, Medal Count (five furlongs in 59.05) and Cleburne (five furlongs in 1:01.30), but said it was “highly unlikely” either would run in the Florida Derby.

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

“Right now, it’s possible we may take one shot to get Cleburne eligible for the Derby in the Blue Grass,” said Romans.
–additional reporting
by David Grening