Promises Fulfilled-Strike Power rematch likely in Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The top two finishers in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park emerged from their efforts in good shape and appear headed for a rematch in the March 31 Florida Derby.

Promises Fulfilled and Strike Power ran one-two for all but perhaps the first few steps of the 1 1/16-mile Kentucky Derby prep Saturday, while the odds-on favorite, Good Magic, chased them home in third.

It was another victory on a big stage for trainer Dale Romans, who said he “always wanted to win this race. It’s a big race on the Kentucky Derby trail and I’m proud to say we’ve won it. Now we’ll look to knock out the Florida Derby with him.”

Promises Fulfilled, making his first start since a third-place finish in the Nov. 25 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs, broke very sharply from his outside post in a field of nine 3-year-olds and got an aggressive ride from Irad Ortiz Jr. to make a clear lead. It was Ortiz’s fifth victory on a 14-race card during which his younger brother, Jose, also had three winners.

“It was a great ride, a smart ride,” said Romans, whose prior major wins include the Preakness, Dubai World Cup, three Breeders’ Cup races, and defeats of American Pharoah and Wise Dan in their prime.

Promises Fulfilled, owned by Bob Baron of Albany, N.Y., earned a 96 Beyer Speed Figure and the 50 Kentucky Derby eligibility points awarded to the Fountain of Youth winner.

Strike Power, trained by Mark Hennig, was making just his third career start and his first around two turns after winning a December maiden race and the Feb. 3 Swale Stakes, both at Gulfstream. The Speightstown colt earned a 92 Beyer and 20 eligibility points.

“I thought he adjusted pretty well to everything new that got thrown at him,” Hennig said. “The way the race unfolded, he handled that well. He climbed maybe a little bit early but then settled in and relaxed. I thought we had that horse turning for home, but he wasn’t coming back. First trip around two turns … we kind of threw 5 1/2 (furlongs) then seven (furlongs) then 1 1/16 miles at him rather quickly. Hopefully with some time to let it all soak in, he can move forward again.”

Hennig said running back in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby is “a good possibility. He ate every oat last night. He seems fine, scoped clean, cooled out well.”

Good Magic (89 Beyer, 10 Derby points), beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Promises Fulfilled when making his first start since winning the Nov. 4 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, appears headed to the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland (http://www.drf.com/news/brown-leaning-blue-grass-good-magics-next-start).

As for the also-rans, Machismo ran creditably when fourth, 6 1/2 lengths behind the winner, while a second Romans starter, Storm Runner, emerged unscathed from what owner Barry Irwin called “a nightmare trip” when seventh under Joel Rosario.

Ron Paolucci of Loooch Racing said on Twitter that Machismo (85 Beyer, 5 Derby points) “got an education” when rallying mildly from seventh as a 37-1 shot and that he intends to keep the colt on the Derby trail.

“He’s healthy, sound, and trains like a horse that will keep improving,” Paolucci said.

Irwin, president of the Team Valor International partnership that owns Storm Runner, said the decision by Rosario to rush the colt up the rail on the backstretch wound up being a poor one, “but I don’t blame the jock too much. Dale had this horse so sharp, and the pace battle didn’t materialize like we thought it would. The other Dale horse had it his own way. As Dale said, (Storm Runner) is a rhythm horse, and once he’s out of that, you can’t get him back.

“Going in, I really thought we were going to win it. I haven’t had a horse train like this in 20 years. I hope he can get back to that edge for his next race. I’m really not that disappointed in the horse. He didn’t have a hard race and could run back in two weeks.”

Irwin said the Florida Derby or Blue Grass is a logical next start for Storm Runner.

Fly So High apparently OK

Trainer Shug McGaughey reiterated Sunday morning at his Barn 11 office at Gulfstream that Fly So High appears to have escaped injury in her three-length victory Saturday in the Grade 2 Davona Dale. Jockey Jose Ortiz dismounted about a furlong past the wire when suspecting the filly took a bad step or two.

“We’re going to have the vet go over her real good again, but she was fine when she left here last night” for Payson Park, McGaughey said. “We’ll have to make sure she’s OK over the next few days. Jose did the right thing. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”

Assuming all is well, Fly So High could run next in the Gulfstream Park Oaks on the Florida Derby undercard or the Gazelle at Aqueduct, McGaughey said.

Fly So High earned 50 eligibility points toward the May 4 Kentucky Oaks in the 2,000th career victory for McGaughey, whose horses have earned more than $141 million in his Hall of Fame career.