Kentucky Derby: Constitution has history working against him

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The name Apollo will be sure to surface at least a couple of hundred times between now and Kentucky Derby Day following Constitution’s game neck decision over Wildcat Red in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

That’s because Constitution will enter the Derby having made only three starts and none before launching his career with an impressive seven-furlong maiden special weight victory here Jan. 11.

Apollo is the last horse to win the Derby without having raced as a 2-year-old. That happened in 1882. It’s a story that’s already been told countless times over the years, including last season, when Todd Pletcher marched down the same road as the trainer of the undefeated Verrazano, who began his career by winning a maiden race at Gulfstream on New Year’s Day.

“I guess you have to respect the stats,” Pletcher said when Apollo’s name came up for the first time this spring shortly after the Florida Derby. “It’s real, and it can be a disadvantage. But that’s what we’ve got to deal with, and we’ll do the best we can.”

That said, Pletcher couldn’t be prouder of what Constitution has accomplished in such a short period of time, culminating with his gallant performance in the Florida Derby, for which he received a career-best 99 Beyer Speed Figure.

“It’s rare you have a horse do what he’s done thus far, and it’s a tribute to how much quality you have there,” said Pletcher, who trains Constitution for the partnership of WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing Stables. “To be able to go from a sprint maiden win to a route to a Grade 1 victory is pretty special.”

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

Constitution was able to slip inside of pacesetter Wildcat Red under brilliant handling from leading rider Javier Castellano before proving narrowly best following a stirring stretch drive and despite racing rankly during the early stages of the Florida Derby. After the race, Pletcher said the winning trip wasn’t one either he or Castellano had originally planned for Constitution.

“No, that wasn’t Plan A,” Pletcher said. “We really wanted to be in the spot General a Rod was, outside and stalking Wildcat Red. “But in some ways, since he won, it was actually a blessing because he was able to cover some bases you would worry about going to Churchill, like getting some dirt in his face. It did concern me he was rank early because I know that’s in his personality a little bit. And I was happy to see when the dirt hit him, he got strong, threw his head a little, and then he settled. Hopefully, that will help him mature a little bit.”

Pletcher said Constitution will remain at the Palm Meadows training center for at least the next few weeks and could have as many as three workouts prior to the Derby, the last one definitely at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Jose Garoffalo said Wildcat Red, who earned considerable respect in defeat for his gritty performance in the Florida Derby, came out of the race well and definitely will head on to Churchill Downs for the Derby.

“It was disappointing he did not win, but I certainly couldn’t be prouder of the way he ran,” said Garoffalo, who added that he watched the replay of the race about 10 times Saturday night. “The plan was to fan General a Rod out on the first turn because we felt he was the one to beat and didn’t want him pressing us like he did in the Fountain of Youth. [Jockey John Velazquez] took him out on the second turn as well, but unfortunately, the winner was right there behind us on the rail and was able to take advantage of the situation.”

Garoffalo said Velazquez, who replaced Luis Saez aboard Wildcat Red in the Florida Derby, remains his first choice to ride him again in the Kentucky Derby.

“Right now, John Velazquez is our rider in the Derby if he wants the mount, but we have to wait and see what his options are before we know for sure that will be the case,” said Garoffalo.

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

Wildcat Red will continue to train up to the Kentucky Derby at Gulfstream but, like Constitution, will have his final work for the race at Churchill Downs.

General a Rod, who finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Wildcat Red after being fanned wide on both turns, shipped to Kentucky on Sunday and will be pointed for the Derby.

“I thought he ran a good race,” said trainer Mike Maker, who was at Fair Grounds on Saturday to watch Vicar’s in Trouble capture the Louisiana Derby. “I thought [jockey Joel Rosario] could have pressed Wildcat Red a little bit more, been a little more into the race.”

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he does not plan on running Cairo Prince, who finished a disappointing fourth as the even-money favorite in the Florida Derby, again before the Kentucky Derby. The 10 qualifying points Cairo Prince earned gave him 24 overall, likely putting him on the bubble as far as making it into the Kentucky Derby field.

“It [running him back before the Derby] goes against everything we stood for ‘til now,” McLaughlin said when asked about squeezing in another race before the Derby with Cairo Prince. “We have to see and hope 24 points is enough to get him in.”

McLaughlin did not offer any excuse for Cairo Prince in the Florida Derby.

“Uneventful trip,” he said. “[Saez] got him in the clear, and then everything stayed the same, 1-2-3-4, all the way around.”

McLaughlin said Cairo Prince would remain at Palm Meadows for the time being.

–additional reporting by David Grening and Jay Privman