Gunnevera parked outside in Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The late addition of three decided outsiders to the field suddenly made Wednesday’s post-position draw for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby very relevant. And sure enough, the draw proved significant, with Fountain of Youth winner and 9-5 morning-line favorite Gunnevera assigned the far-outside post 11, a disadvantage with such a short run to the first turn in 1 1/8-mile races at Gulfstream Park.

Three Rules, third in the Fountain of Youth and among the potential pacesetters in the Florida Derby, also fared poorly, drawing post 10. Gunnevera and Three Rules are likely to move in one slot each by post time, with trainer Todd Pletcher expected to scratch one of his two entrants, Battalion Runner, in favor of starting Always Dreaming.

The Florida Derby lineup, with riders, in post-position order: State of Honor (Julien Leparoux), Talk Logistics (Joe Bravo), Charlie the Greek (Leonel Reyes), Always Dreaming (John Velazquez), Quinientos (Carlos Montalvo), Coleman Rocky (Jose Ortiz), Unbridled Holiday (Nik Juarez), Impressive Edge (Corey Lanerie), Battalion Runner (John Velazquez), Three Rules (Luis Saez), and Gunnevera (Javier Castellano).

Only five of the 122 horses (4 percent) breaking from post 9 have won at 1 1/8 miles since the Gulfstream Park racetrack was reconfigured in 2006. Starters from post 10 have fared only slightly better, with four winners from 75 starters (5 percent). But Antonio Sano, who trains Gunnevera, did not seem very upset with the draw.

“No, I’m not concerned at all,” said Sano. “Whenever a horse is outside, there is less trouble. There is less chance of getting pinched at the start breaking from the outside. I am very confident in my horse and my rider. My biggest concern is the pace. There looks like there is less pace in this race than the last one.”

Three Rules set the pace into the stretch before finishing a tiring third, 6 1/4 lengths behind Gunnevera, in the Fountain of Youth. And he is expected to be among the early leaders Saturday, along with State of Honor, the pacesetter in both the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby who will race without blinkers in the Florida Derby.

“I would have preferred to be further inside, but this horse is fast, and it will be up to the jock to get a good position into the first turn,” said Jose Pinchin, who trains Three Rules. “He doesn’t need to be on the lead. He wants to be in striking position, but we’re all right.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher reiterated after the draw that Battalion Runner was entered only as “an insurance policy” in the unlikely event that Always Dreaming cannot run Saturday. Always Dreaming is undefeated in two starts at age 3 but has yet to face this type of competition.

“You never take anything for granted, but I was very happy with the draw,” said Pletcher. “It gives him some options.”