HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The late addition of three decided outsiders to the field suddenly made Wednesday’s post-position draw for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby very relevant. And sure enough, the draw proved significant, with Fountain of Youth winner and 9-5 morning-line favorite Gunnevera assigned the far-outside post 11, a disadvantage with such a short run to the first turn in 1 1/8-mile races at Gulfstream Park.
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Local Hero
Hard Spun-Liam’s Dream, by Saint Liam
(Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm; $500,000 purchase by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds at Fasig-Tipton Florida sale of selected 2-year-olds in training)
The Grade 2, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 at Keeneland lost one significant player but picked up another on Tuesday as the connections of Classic Empire and Practical Joke finalized plans for their dual Grade 1-winning 3-year-old colts.
Classic Empire, the champion 2-year-old male of 2016, will make his next start in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on April 15, his trainer, Mark Casse, said Tuesday. The Blue Grass had been under consideration for Classic Empire, who won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland fall.
The connections of Sunland Derby runner-up Conquest Mo Money tried to make the horse a late nominee to the Triple Crown, but they missed the deadline and the nomination was rejected, confirmed a representative from Churchill Downs. In order to run in the Kentucky Derby, he will have to be supplemented to the race at a cost of $200,000 by time of entry.
Co-owner Sandy McKenna said a check for $6,000 to make Conquest Mo Money a late nominee to the Triple Crown was sent March 24. But the deadline for late nominations was March 20.
Grade 3, $800,000 Sunland Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Sunland Park, March 26, 2017
(50 Derby qualifying points for a win, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth)
Winner: Hence, by Street Boss
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Alfredo Juarez Jr.
Owner: Calumet Farm
Beyer Speed Figure: 97
Sunland Derby winner Hence was traveling back to his Oaklawn base on Monday, his spot in the Kentucky Derby secure as he picked up 50 qualifying points for his victory. But the path he will take to the May 6 classic at Churchill Downs is to be determined, trainer Steve Asmussen said.
Asmussen said he wants to evaluate how Hence handled the race and the travel before discussing with owner Calumet Farm “the best way to proceed to the Derby.”
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – The field for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park was all but finalized last Saturday following a busy morning during which all eight potential starters put in their final works at four different venues around the local area.
Tapwrit, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby in his last start, will head to Keeneland for the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes on April 8 for his final start before the May 6 Kentucky Derby, Aron Wellman, who runs the Eclipse Thoroughbred partnership, said Monday.
Eclipse is part of an ownership group in Tapwrit that includes Bridlewood Farm and Robert LaPenta.
“He’s telling us with the way he’s training that he deserves another opportunity to race before the big dance,” Wellman said.
Jose Ortiz will have the mount in the Blue Grass, Wellman said.
It is increasingly doubtful that a Japanese-based runner will compete in this year’s Kentucky Derby on May 6. Epicharis, the runner-up in the United Arab Emirates Derby on Saturday, has been removed from consideration by his connections, and the only other two prospects who could be invited by Churchill Downs are unlikely to participate, according to the Japan Racing Association.