Upstart to begin from outside post in Florida Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Upstart, the 8-5 morning line favorite, drew the outside post in a field of nine for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby will be run as the final race on a marathon 14-race program which begins at noon.

Trainer Rick Violette was clearly not pleased with Upstart’s post, especially because there is a short run to the first turn in races run at 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream.

“It was certainly my last choice,” said Violette. “I might have been on a plane for New York if it had been 10 or 11. Obviously, it’s not ideal, but we’ll have to deal with it. That’s what the jock is up there for. But he’s tactical. I just hope he breaks clean and gets a clean run. There certainly won’t be horses pressing him from the outside, but I’d have preferred to have been inside. Even one horse inside, you tend to break straighter with a horse breaking on your outside.”

Trainer Josie Carroll also voiced her displeasure after Ami’s Flatter drew the rail. Ami’s Flatter was a last-minute addition to the Florida Derby field after having been considered for the Blue Grass at Keeneland following his second place-finish in the Tampa Bay Derby.

“I’m equally not delighted,” Carroll said, referring to Violette’s similar reaction to the draw. “But it’s a long race and he’ll have time to get okay position.”

The field for the Florida Derby, in post position order, consists of Ami’s Flatter (Javier Castellano to ride); Jack Tripp (Irad Ortiz Jr.); Indianaughty (Corey Lanerie); Itsaknockout (Luis Saez); Quimet (Edgard Zayas); My Point Exactly (Juan Leyva); Materiality (John Velazquez); Dekabrist (Jesus Rios) and Upstart (Jose Ortiz).

Upstart was followed on track oddsmaker Jay Stone's morning line by Itsaknockout (2-1), Materiality (7-2) and Ami’s Flatter (8-1).