Florida Derby Countdown

Top Horsemen Question Florida Derby Faceoff

This is a good read about the dangers of a duel this close to KY DERBY John Servis, trainer of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Smarty Jones  , questioned whether five weeks will be enough time for either colt to recover from confronting an undefeated top-level opponent. "If they peak that race before, it will be hard for them, even with five weeks, to come back and give their best effort," Servis said. (Bloodhorse)

Florida Derby hard at the top, soft underneath

Explains why the field is full of also rans (hint $$$) A week ago, it looked as if the two might face just two or three rivals who would have to be heavily recruited to start against them. So, it was a shock when entries were taken Wednesday that the race drew a field of 10, more than six of the seven other stakes on the Saturday card. Someone has to fill out the order of finish, and there are prizes of $100,000 for third, $50,000 for fourth, $30,000 for fifth, and $10,000 for sixth through 10th.  (ESPN)

Clash Of The Titans: Nyquist, Mohaymen Headline Field Of 10 For Florida Derby

“This is why you get up early and go to the barn – for opportunities like this. To have our colt No. 2 and Mohaymen No. 1 and have that matchup five weeks before the Kentucky Derby is awesome,” said Doug O'Neill, trainer of the Eclipse Award-winning Nyquist, rated second at 6-5 behind even-money morning-line favorite Mohaymen for Gulfstream's signature event.” I think it's awesome for the sport and exciting for all the connections.”

The Florida Derby will be the centerpiece of a 14-race program featuring eight stakes (seven graded). First-race post time is set for noon. (Paulick)

Champion Nyquist Settles In At Gulfstream Park

Reddam Racing's undefeated champion Nyquist completed his cross-country trip late Tuesday afternoon to Gulfstream Park, where he is scheduled to make his next start in Saturday's $1 million xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1).

Trained by Doug O'Neill, the sophomore son of Uncle Mo left California Tuesday morning and set foot on the Gulfstream backstretch at 5:35 p.m. after traveling through the traffic and thunderstorms of South Florida. (Paulick)

Uneventful Draw for FL Derby Faves

“We’re pleased to be outside of Nyquist,” Kiaran McLaughlin said of his charge Mohaymen’s draw. “We just wanted to be outside of him, for one, and two, hopefully we’ll stay out of trouble being outside a little bit. It will give [jockey] Junior [Alvarado] an opportunity to ride his race and be out in the clear.”  (TDN)

The field, from the rail out with trainer and jockey in parentheses, followed by odds:

No. 1, Sawyers Mickey (Peter Walder, Scott Spieth), 30-1

 No. 2, Fellowship (Stanley Gold, Jose Lezcano), 15-1

 No. 3, Majesto (Gustavo Delgado, Javier Castellano), 20-1

 No. 4, Nyquist (Doug O'Neill, Mario Gutierrez), 6-5

 No. 5, Copingaway (Jaime Meija, Miguel Vasquez), 50-1

 No. 6, Chovanes (Jorge Navarro, Edgard Zayas), 30-1

 No. 7, Takeittotheedge (Dale Romans, Tyler Gaffalione), 20-1

 No. 8, Fashionable Freddy (Nick Zito, Nik Juarez), 30-1

 No. 9, Mohaymen (Kiaran McLaughlin, Junior Alvarado), 1-1

 No. 10, Isofass (Francis Abbott III, Julien Leparoux), 30-1

Mohaymen, Nyquist Camps Ready for Showdown

While Nyquist has demonstrated an ability to win from on or off the pace, McLaughlin concluded that he expects Mohaymen to be tracking the West Coast invader in the early stages Saturday. (TDN)

Fellowship In It to Win It “We’re running against arguably the best 3-year-olds in the country, but I am where I am, and I’m not looking to avoid them,” said Trainer Stanley Gold.  “He’s already been third to Mohaymen twice, and they were both honest races. The extra distance will certainly be an aid because we know he’ll run late, and if we are actually lucky enough and decide to go to the Kentucky Derby, I’m not worried about the mile and one-quarter either. And having a little bigger field, as it seems we will now, should work to our advantage from a pace standpoint as well. I believe I’m running a live horse in there on Saturday. I don’t know how live, but he’s live.” (Daily Racing Forum)

Nyquist Pedigree and Mohaymen Pedigree ~They share Mr. Prospector.  Nyquist notables are Storm Bird, Storm Cat and Uncle Mo is the sire.  Mohaymen is from Tapit with notables being Seattle Slew, A P Indy and Unbridled.  

So Far, it will be a four horse field, rounded out by Majesto and Fellowship (Horse Racing Nation)

Undefeated Nyquist and Mohaymen to face off in Florida in historic Kentucky Derby prelude

Jay Privman, national correspondent for the Daily Racing Form who will be covering his 34th consecutive Kentucky Derby this year, said he couldn't find any report in which undefeated No. 1 and 2 horses have met prior to the Derby. "One of the reasons is that horses used to run a lot more, so they had greater chances of getting beat," Privman said. "But even with fewer races, this year is a very interesting and compelling story." (Los Angeles Times)

Mohaymen Gets Final Work for Florida Derby 

Shadwell Stable’s Mohaymen (Tapit), perfect in five career trips to the post, turned in his final serious drill ahead of next Saturday’s GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby, breezing a half-mile Thursday morning at Palm Meadows. (TDN)

Nyquist Logs Final Breeze for Florida Derby

 Nyquist worked his standard mile, starting slowly and finishing up quickly, but added a workmate. O'Neill timed the standout colt's wire-to-wire drill in 1:49 3/5, but had his last eighth in :11 3/5. (Bloodhorse)

Majesto looks to continue family's winning ways in Florida Derby

The Tiznow colt, who is coming off a maiden win Feb. 27 at Gulfstream, is expected to be part of a short field facing unbeaten Kentucky Derby favorites Mohaymen and Nyquist. “I know that the two big horses are very, very, very strong,” trainer Gustavo Delgado said. “To finish third would be very good for me. It looks like only six or seven horses will be in the race. Racing is racing, and anything can happen.” (DRF)