HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Florida Derby winner Tappan Street, the only competitor to finish in front of likely Horse of the Year Sovereignty in 2025, will launch his highly anticipated comeback as an overwhelming favorite going a mile under optional claiming and allowance conditions Friday at Gulfstream Park. Despite the imposing presence of Tappan Street, the race has attracted a field of seven to vie for a $58,000 purse. Tappan Street has run just three times, with all of those starts coming last winter at Gulfstream. He launched his career just four days shy of his third birthday, winning a seven-furlong maiden special weight dash. He then established himself as a solid Kentucky Derby contender by finishing second to Burnham Square stretching to 1 1/16 miles in the Grade 3 Holy Bull. Trainer Brad Cox announced immediately after the Holy Bull that he intended to skip the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth and train Tappan Street up to the Grade 1 Florida Derby eight weeks later. That strategy worked to perfection after Tappan Street registered a 1 1/4-length decision over Sovereignty, earning a career best 94 Beyer Speed Figure while handing Sovereignty his only setback in six starts at age 3. The Florida Derby set the stage for a rematch in the Kentucky Derby, one which never came to fruition after Tappan Street suffered a condylar fracture in his right front leg in his final workout a week before the race. :: Play Gulfstream Park with confidence! DRF Past Performances, Picks, and Clocker Reports are available now.  “It’s not the first time we’ve had a horse get injured a week before a big race and, yeah, it stings, but we knew it was something he’d be able to come back from and I always say you just have to get into the huddle and call the next play,” said Cox. “I’ve had several horses who competed at or [have] maybe even gotten better at the Grade 1 level after an injury, and I’m very confident we’ve yet to see the very best of him.” Cox nominated Tappan Street to Saturday’s Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday as a possible prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 24, but he ultimately decided to take advantage of his still lightly raced star’s conditions and bring him back in an easier spot. “He showed a world of talent last year, and it’s always nice when you have the conditions to take advantage of – especially coming off a layoff,” Cox explained. “It’s not like we feel we have the horse coming into the race as good as he’s going to be. He only started three times and he needs some more runs under his belt, but he’s ready to go and we’re looking forward to getting his year started.” :: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.  As for the possibility of Tappan Street making his 4-year-old debut in the Pegasus World Cup, Cox said that option remains a distinct possibility, although he’s not ready to make any commitments before getting through Friday’s race. “If he shows up and runs his race Friday, we’ll be in good shape, but it’s really just a building block and he’s going to have to run a very positive race to think about the Pegasus,” Cox said. “For now, we’re just going to take it one step at a time.” Although Luis Saez rode Tappan Street in each of his three starts, including to victory in the Florida Derby, Cox has given Irad Ortiz Jr. the call on Friday. Tappan Street will hold a decided class edge over his six potential rivals. Real Macho is the only stakes winner in the lineup, but he’s failed to hit the board in seven starts since capturing the seven-furlong Carry Back here during the summer of 2024. Of the others, Solo Venturi figures to take some backing after registering a 90 Beyer winning a one-mile allowance race this summer at Horseshoe Indianapolis. He and Steppe, a very game second in an overnight handicap at a mile in his last start, join Tappan Street as the only 3-year-olds in the lineup. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.