Tiz the Law, Ete Indien top Florida Derby probables

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – At least eight 3-year-olds are likely for the 69th Florida Derby, the annual Gulfstream Park showcase that will be run under far different circumstances than ever before – assuming the race goes as scheduled next Saturday.

Not only will the Florida Derby be run without any spectators on site for the first time, but it also will come more than five months before the Kentucky Derby. Its customary position has been as a primary feeder just five weeks before the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs officials announced Tuesday a new Sept. 5 date for the 146th Kentucky Derby, which had been scheduled for May 2 before the coronavirus pandemic forced its postponement.

Working on the tenuous assumption that the crisis does not shut down Gulfstream before then, entries will be drawn Wednesday for the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby, which offers 170 qualifying points (100-40-20-10) toward the Kentucky Derby. A revised points schedule for the Kentucky Derby is still in the works.

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby will rematch the winners of the two preceding 1 1/16-mile preps at Gulfstream: Tiz the Law, winner of the Feb. 1 Holy Bull, and Ete Indien, winner of the Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth. Both colts were scheduled to have final pre-race breezes over the weekend at the Palm Meadows training center.

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Other confirmed Florida Derby prospects include Ajaaweed, As Seen On Tv, Candy Tycoon, Disc Jockey, Gouverneur Morris, and Independence Hall. Possible last-minute considerations include Rogue Element, a Calumet Farm maiden trained by Dale Romans.

The Florida Derby will anchor a very busy program. At least six more stakes will be on the undercard, although Gulfstream director of racing Mike Lakow said he is “leaning toward” moving three more stakes from Friday to Saturday, “depending on weather forecast and field sizes.” Those races are the Hal’s Hope, Appleton, and Sir Shackleton.

Also, Gulfstream has yet to announce whether a forceout of its Rainbow 6 pool will be held Saturday or the following day, March 29, when the four-month championship meet is scheduled to close. The Rainbow 6 jackpot stood at $1,153,125 after Thursday action.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the supporting stakes:

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks: Tonalist’s Shape and Spice Is Nice, the respective one-two finishers in the Feb. 29 Davona Dale, will be rematched among a sizable field of 3-year-old fillies in this 170-point qualifier for the Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks. Tonalist’s Shape, trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., is undefeated in five starts. Lucrezia is among the other likely starters for this 1 1/16-mile race.

◗ Grade 2, $250,000 Pan American: Mike Maker initially had intended to skip this 1 1/2-mile turf race with Zulu Alpha in favor of the Old Forester, but with that Churchill race also having been moved to Sept. 5, Zulu Alpha figures as a heavy favorite following victories in the Pegasus World Cup Turf and Mac Diarmida earlier in the meet.

◗ Grade 3, $100,000 Orchid: This 1 3/8-mile turf race will match the winners of the two prior races at the meet in this filly-mare category, Mean Mary (Jan. 25 La Prevoyante) and Elizabeth Way (Feb. 29 The Very One).

◗ Grade 3, $100,000 Hal’s Hope: American Tattoo will return to dirt following a failed turf experiment as part of what shapes up as a well-matched lineup of older horses in this 1 1/8-mile race.

◗ Grade 3, $100,000 Appleton: Sombeyay and English Bee, the respective one-two finishers in the Feb. 29 Canadian Turf, are among those expected in a large field of older turf milers.

◗ The $75,000 Sir Shackleton, a seven-furlong race expected to mark the return of Vekoma, would join a trio of ungraded turf stakes already on the Saturday slate. Those races are the $125,000 Cutler Bay (3-year-olds), the $125,000 Sanibel Island (3-year-old fillies), and the $100,000 Sand Springs (fillies and mares).