Gunnevera, Practical Joke, Three Rules tune up for Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - A handful of potential Florida Derby starters were in action at four different venues in south Florida on Saturday, including Gunnevera, Practical Joke, and Three Rules, the first three finishers two weeks ago in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park.

At Gulfstream Park West, Gunnevera turned in a very easy five-furlong breeze in 1:04.40 with regular exercise rider Edgard Zayas aboard. The work was the first for Gunnevera since his impressive 5 3/4-length triumph in the Fountain of Youth.

“First work after the race, it was just easy, right on pace,” said trainer Antonio Sano. “After the work, he galloped out another half- mile in 48. Next week, he’ll do a little more.”

Sano will have to find another work rider for Gunnevera’s final Florida Derby prep with Zayas scheduled to be in Dubai next Saturday to ride Sharp Azteca in the Godolphin Mile.

Practical Joke impressed trainer Chad Brown after going four furlongs in 48.75 seconds at Palm Meadows.

“He looked super,” said Brown. “The horse got a lot out of that race. I was very happy with his first work back.”

Brown said he has narrowed the options for Practical Joke’s final Kentucky Derby prep to either the Florida Derby on April 1 or the Blue Grass Stakes the following week at Keeneland.

“I still want to see where everybody is running,” said Brown. “I’m going to go as far as to enter in the Florida Derby, see where everybody draws.”

Brown said Jose Ortiz will have the mount if Practical Joke runs in the Florida Derby.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said he was pleased with the way his two potential Florida Derby starters, Battalion Runner and Always Dreaming, breezed on Saturday at Palm Beach Downs. Battalion Runner went five furlongs in 1:00.20, Always Dreaming went a half-mile in 48 in company with stablemate Theory.

“Battalion Runner worked a good, solid five-eighths with a strong gallop-out,” said Pletcher. “I’m very happy with the way he’s doing. I thought Always Dreaming also worked super this morning.”

Pletcher, like Brown, is also likely to enter both Battalion Runner and Always Dreaming in the Florida Derby to see where they draw before making an ultimate decision on which one will compete in the race.

“It’s hard to ignore the statistics from the outside posts,” said Pletcher, referring to races at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream.

Pletcher has said all along that in all probability, only one of the pair would compete in the Florida Derby due to the common ownership of the two horses, with Battalion Runner and Always Dreaming both owned all or in part by Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable.

Pletcher also worked his undefeated One Liner an easy half-mile in 50.20 at Palm Beach Downs, but said it was very unlikely he too would be considered a Florida Derby prospect.

“Just an easy half this morning for his first work back since the Southwest,” said Pletcher. “We’ll work him back next Saturday and get a little more serious. Right now it’s more likely he’ll run somewhere on April 8. I’m just not sure where yet.”

At Gulfstream Park, Three Rules opened galloped a mile after the first renovation break, the final five furlongs in 1:03 and change while kept well off the rail throughout.