Notes on the Florida Derby (G1) Program
March 19th, 2010Jude T. Feld
Will Christine Daae capture hearts or break them in Gulfstream’s Bonnie Miss (G2)?
If you missed “Kentucky Derby Radar – Chapter 4” click here.
“The sunshine state” will finally get some for the Florida Derby (G1) this Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Director of Racing Bernie Hettel and Racing Secretary Dan Bork have put together a fabulous card for their track’s signature day. If you can’t get to the track or watch the races on HRTV or TVG, tune in to the live four-stakes broadcast from the Horse Racing Radio Network. (Just click on their banner on the right for more information about stations and streaming.)
BONNIE MISS (G2) – GULFSTREAM RACE 7
Some racing fans and turf writers are already dubbing CHRISTINE DAAE, “the next Rachel Alexandra.†School is out on that accolade, but the daughter of Giant’s Causeway has given some indications she might be pretty good. Trainer Patrick Biancone, who named the filly for the young singer who falls in love with The Phantom of the Opera, has been singing her praises for quite a while. She has been training like a bomb at Gulfstream and Corey Nakatani will fly in from his Arkansas base to ride her.
RAMPART (G3) – GULFSTREAM RACE 8
BAMBERA, the Queen of Venezuela, makes her stateside debut after a stop in Puerto Rico, where she captured one of the Caribbean’s greatest races, the Clasico Del Caribe (G1) against the boys. A winner of 16 races in 18 starts, the daughter of Sadler’s Wells stallion Water Poet has posted two bullet five-furlong drills across town at Calder, indicating she is fully cranked up for today’s event. The mile and an eighth of this race also works in her favor as her major competitors, DON’T FORGET and UNRIVALED BELLE seemed pressed to make it that far.
To watch Bambera win the Clasico Del Caribe (G1) click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Dv7w3g4uQ
APPLETON (G3) – GULFSTREAM RACE 9
While RAHY’S ATTORNEY hasn’t won a case in a while, his numbers stick out in this patchwork field. He is kind of a “feast or famine†type, but with over a million and a half U.S. in his bank account, he is the horse to beat. New face ALMORADI bears some interest. He prepped in the super-tough Tampa Bay Stakes against Karelian, Gio Ponti and Rahystrada and was not disgraced. This is a much easier group.
SWALE (G2) – GULFSTREAM RACE 10
D’FUNNYBONE is the best three-year-old sprinter in the country. His comeback victory in the Hutcheson (G2) four weeks ago was accomplished with ease. Sharp trainer Rick Dutrow has given him two nice breezes in the interim and found a great spot for the Florida-bred son of D’wildcat to post another victory.
FLORIDA DERBY (G1) – GULFSTREAM RACE 11
In his four races since September 5 of last year, RULE has yet to be headed. That’s 20 points of call, all beginning with “1â€. The WinStar Farm colorbearer was flattered slightly when Schoolyard Dreams came back with a nice performance in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) after running second to him in the Sam F. Davis (G3). Jockey John Velazquez is confident that his mount can rate if asked, so if Kent Desormeaux sends MINER’S RESERVE to the lead, look for a pressing trip from the son of Roman Ruler. GAME ON DUDE was impressive breaking his maiden but takes a huge step up in class. He has worked well since and is bred to relish the added distance. Underrated jockey Jeremy Rose enhances his chances. SOARING EMPIRE is fancied by his connections. He prepped well in a seven-furlong allowance race over the track and that could translate into big performance from off the pace on Saturday. He is sure to be a square price too. RADIOHEAD looked awesome in his 2010 debut but has posted two pedestrian workouts since. If we ignore those drills, his best puts him right in the picture.
