Practical Joke, Gunnevera among workers for Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Practical Joke moved a step closer toward starting in the $1 million Florida Derby by working five furlongs in 1:00.90 in company with stablemate Shagaf at Palm Meadows on Saturday. Practical Joke was one of more than a half-dozen possible Florida Derby starters to work throughout the local area Saturday.

Trainer Chad Brown said he was "very pleased" with the work and the way Practical Joke, the runner-up to Gunnevera in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, is doing at the moment. And while he wouldn't commit Practical Joke to the Florida Derby, he said it was "probable" that he would run there next, with his other option being the Blue Grass Stakes the following week.

"What it comes down to is how he comes out of this work and whether I think he needs another week or not," said Brown. "If I think he's ready, we'll probably run here."

Brown said Jose Ortiz would ride Practical Joke in the Florida Derby next Saturday, with Joel Rosario to ride if he runs in the Blue Grass.

Trainer Dale Romans worked his two prospective Florida Derby starters, Impressive Edge and J Boys Echo, at Gulfstream Park, after which he said Impressive Edge definitely will run in the Florida Derby, with J Boys Echo heading to Keeneland for the Blue Grass.

Impressive Edge worked five furlongs from the half-mile pole in 1:01.27 before galloping out six panels in a sharp 1:13.85. J Boys Echo also went five-eighths from the half in a more leisurely 1:02.89.

"J Boy never works fast, but he looked good moving," said Romans. "The other colt is just a natural athlete. He always works fast, and the way he went today, he'll go to the Florida Derby and J Boy to the Blue Grass. It makes sense to keep Edge here since he's already won two of three over the track. J Boy has already run very well at Keeneland, and we've had success in the past going that route."

Corey Lanerie will ride Impressive Edge in the Florida Derby.

Three Rules, who finished third in the Fountain of Youth, also turned in his final Florida Derby prep Saturday at Gulfstream, going five furlongs in 1:00.50.

Gunnevera, the likely Florida Derby favorite coming off his victory in the Fountain of Youth, also worked on Saturday at Gulfstream Park West, going five furlongs in 1:01.87 before galloping out six panels in 1:14.98. Leonel Reyes was aboard for the drill, replacing Gunnevera’s regular work rider, Edgard Zayas, who rode in Dubai on Saturday. Javier Castellano rides Gunnevera in the Florida Derby.

“It was very good for me. The jockey did exactly as I asked him, and it went perfect,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “He was very calm on my horse. The gallop-out was very good. Last week, the horse worked very slow. He is ready for the race. He didn’t need more for the Florida Derby, so I breezed him looking ahead to the next one [Kentucky Derby].”

Like Romans, trainer Todd Pletcher has a decision to make: whether to run Battalion Runner or Always Dreaming in the Florida Derby. And he too has pretty much settled on his choice after both horses breezed at Palm Beach Downs on Saturday. Battalion Runner worked five-eighths in 1:01, while Always Dreaming went four furlongs in 48.40, both with Ortiz aboard.

“I think I’ll enter both to cover our bases and make sure everything goes well this week,” said Pletcher. “But right now, the plan is to run Always Dreaming here and Battalion Runner in the Santa Anita Derby.”

Pletcher said the Wood Memorial and Blue Grass being downgraded to Grade 2 status this year played a part in his choice of the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby for Battalion Runner’s final Derby prep.

“I thought Always Dreaming was very impressive,” Pletcher said. “In fact, he’s been exceptionally good in his last two breezes. He’s just continued to come forward through the winter and early spring.”

Other likely Florida Derby starters to work Saturday included State of Honor, four furlongs in 48.30; Talk Logistics, five-eighths in 1:01.25 with Joe Bravo up; and Unbridled Holiday, a half-mile in 48, all three at Palm Meadows.

Entries for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby will be drawn at 11 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday.