No prep race has produced extra Kentucky Derby winners than the Florida Derby, together with 4 of the final 10 and 5 of the final 13 amongst 26 whole winners of the run for the roses that emerged from the marquee Gulfstream Park race.
Simply final yr, Sovereignty adopted a runner-up end within the Florida Derby with victories within the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on his approach to Horse of the 12 months honors.
This yr’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby Offered by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa drew a deep forged of 9 3-year-olds (which shall be decreased to eight with the reported scratch of Redland Rebels). The group contains the top-two finishers from the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes winner, each at Gulfstream, in addition to the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby winner for some severe Florida firepower.
The Florida Derby is scheduled for six:42 p.m. ET and can award qualifying factors to the Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the highest 5 finishers. Racing followers can watch the Florida Derby on NBCSN throughout an hour-long broadcast from 6-7 p.m. ET, and the race additionally shall be streamed on Peacock and televised on FanDuelTV.
Wagers provided on the Florida Derby are win-place-show, exacta, trifecta, superfecta, and tremendous Hello-5, all of which will be made by way of Gulfstream Park’s associate, 1/ST BET.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the Florida Derby subject.
1. Albus (20-1 morning-line odds)
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Coach: Riley Mott
Proprietor: Pin Oak Stud
Profession document: 3 begins – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third
Profession earnings: $36,288
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 87
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Yaupon – Adream, by Bernardini
Coloration: Darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: Press the tempo
Evaluation: Albus took a pleasant step ahead in his third begin to earn his first victory, powering to a 6 ¾-length romp in a one mile and 40-yard race Feb. 27 at Tampa Bay Downs. A darkish bay or brown colt from the primary crop of Grade 1 winner Yaupon, Albus has tactical velocity and needs to be outstanding early within the Florida Derby together with a number of speedy entrants. A $320,000 buy on the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale, Albus was unplaced and well-beaten in his profession debut in October 2025 at Keeneland earlier than ending third in November at Churchill Downs. His return from a three-month layoff confirmed promising development, and Albus could possibly be a candidate for a top-three end if he can enhance once more. Elite jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who received this race in 2022 on White Abarrio, picks up the mount for coach Riley Mott.
2. Chief Wallabee (2-1)
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Coach: Invoice Mott
House owners: Michael Ball and Katherine Ball
Profession document: 2 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $117,600
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 99
Kentucky Derby factors: 25
Pedigree: Structure – A La Lucie, by Medaglia d’Oro
Coloration: Bay
Working fashion: Stalker/nearer
Evaluation: Chief Wallabee made a pleasant first impression when profitable his debut Jan. 10 in a dash at Gulfstream Park by 1 ½ lengths, a victory that was flattered when runner-up The Puma got here again to win the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby. Chief Wallabee made his stakes debut within the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes Feb. 28 and rallied gamely from off the tempo however got here up a neck in need of Commandment after an exciting battle by means of the Gulfstream stretch. Chief Wallabee and Commandment each earned a 99 Equibase Velocity Determine for the Fountain of Youth, tied for the perfect within the Florida Derby subject. Chief Wallabee is eligible to enhance in his third profession begin for Corridor of Fame coach Invoice Mott – he regarded like he idled a bit after taking the lead on the high of the Fountain of Youth stretch however fought again when he noticed Commandment to his inside – and his pedigree suggests he ought to relish extra distance as he stretches out to 1 1/8 miles. He’s a serious win candidate for Mott and jockey Junior Alvarado, who completed second on this race final yr with eventual Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes Offered by NYRA Bets winner Sovereignty.
3. Wayne’s Regulation (15-1)
Jockey: Marcos Meneses
Coach: Amador Sanchez
Proprietor: Baalbek Corp.
Profession document: 5 begins – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $135,530
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 94
Kentucky Derby factors: 10
Pedigree: Tiz the Regulation – Mollie Merisa, by Harlan’s Vacation
Coloration: Chestnut
Working fashion: Press the tempo
Evaluation: Wayne’s Regulation owns a stakes win on the Gulfstream Park predominant observe, dominating the one-mile Aventura Stakes by 7 ¾ lengths as a 2-year-old in September 2025 earlier than closing out his juvenile season with a 3rd within the Jean Lafitte Stakes in November at Delta Downs. The Tiz the Regulation colt returned from a 2 ½-month freshening within the Feb. 7 Sam F. Davis Stakes and set the tempo at 48.20-1 odds at Tampa Bay Downs earlier than giving manner late to high Kentucky Derby contender Renegade. Wayne’s Regulation completed 2 ¼ lengths away from third-place finisher The Puma within the Sam F. Davis, a second-place end that appears even higher after The Puma’s subsequent Tampa Bay Derby victory. Wayne’s Regulation ought to enhance in his second begin after the layoff with a two-turn race in 2026 below his belt and could possibly be on or close to the lead approaching the stretch, maybe once more at an enormous worth. This can be a high quality Florida Derby subject however Wayne’s Regulation is a candidate to boost the trifecta.
4. Commandment (5-2)
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Coach: Brad Cox
Proprietor: Wathnan Racing
Profession document: 4 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $403,539
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 99
Kentucky Derby factors: 50
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Sippican Harbor, by Orb
Coloration: Bay
Working fashion: Stalker
Evaluation: By perennial main sire Into Mischief out of Grade 1 winner Sippican Harbor, by Orb, Commandment was a $475,000 buy on the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. The bay colt carries a three-race profitable streak into the Florida Derby and profiles as a high win candidate with elite velocity figures and back-to-back stakes victories on the primary observe at Gulfstream. He overwhelmed six opponents in a 6 ¾-length runaway within the one-mile Mucho Macho Man Stakes after which outfinished Chief Wallabee by a neck after a dream inside journey within the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes. Commandment appears to be progressing with every begin for coach Brad Cox, who received the Florida Derby final yr with Tappan Road, and Flavien Prat picks up the mount. Cox and Prat have received at a 33% clip because the begin of 2025 and have an incredible shot so as to add to that success with Commandment.
5. Redland Rebels (15-1)
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Coach: Patrick Biancone
Proprietor: Calypso Racing Stables
Profession document: 4 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $104,500
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 90
Kentucky Derby factors: 10
Pedigree: Uncle Chuck – Kombat Cat, by D’wildcat
Coloration: Darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: Pacesetter
Evaluation: This colt is cross-entered within the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby Saturday at Oaklawn Park, and in response to a report in Day by day Racing Kind will run in that race as a substitute of the Florida Derby.
6. Practically (3-1)
Jockey: John Velazquez
Coach: Todd Pletcher
Proprietor: Centennial Farms
Profession document: 4 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $249,900
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 92
Kentucky Derby factors: 20
Pedigree: Not This Time – Ib Prospecting, by Mineshaft
Coloration: Darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: Stalker/press the tempo
Evaluation: Practically has not raced since dominating the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes by 5 ¾ lengths Jan. 31 on the primary observe at Gulfstream Park. The week after the Holy Bull, the Not This Time colt moved as much as second on Byron King’s Derby Dozen and first within the NTRA high 3-year-olds ballot. Seven-plus weeks later a lot has modified on the Derby path, however Practically stays in a main slot in third on each lists. The Florida Derby is, nevertheless, a make-or-break race for Practically by way of the Kentucky Derby. Positive, he’s received three straight races by margins starting from 5 to 9 ¼ lengths, however he solely has 20 qualifying factors so far and thus may want a top-two end to ensure his spot within the beginning gate at Churchill Downs Could 2. Practically has been working steadily for this race because the Holy Bull. He quick, well-bred, and his tactical velocity makes him formidable for eight-time Florida Derby-winning coach Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, a six-time winner of the race. Corridor of Famers Pletcher and Velazquez teamed to win the Florida Derby 4 instances with Materiality (2015), All the time Dreaming (2017), Audible (2018), and Fierceness (2024).
7. Timeless Victory (20-1)
Jockey: Jose Morelos
Coach: Eddie Plesa Jr.
House owners: Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing, and Laurie Plesa
Profession document: 6 begins – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds
Profession earnings: $106,390
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 83
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: By My Requirements – Memento, by Nyquist
Coloration: Bay
Working fashion: Stalker/press the tempo
Evaluation: Timeless Victory received an allowance-optional claiming race at this observe and 1 1/8-mile distance by six lengths in his most up-to-date begin on March 1 for coach Eddie Plesa Jr. He earned a career-best Equibase Velocity Determine and equaled his career-best Beyer Velocity Determine within the win whereas enhancing to 2 wins and one third in three begins on filth (he made his first three begins on turf or all-weather surfaces). Whereas he’s established a choice for racing on filth, Timeless Victory might want to enhance considerably within the Florida Derby. He was unplaced and well-beaten in his lone earlier stakes strive, albeit on the grass, and should increase his velocity figures by 10-15 factors to be within the combine for a top-three end. On the plus facet, Timeless Victory has a win at this distance and hails from the household of Belmont Stakes winners Jazil (2006) and Rags to Riches (2007), so stamina shouldn’t be a difficulty. Timeless Victory would be the last starter for Plesa Jr. after the coach, a presence in Florida racing for greater than 5 many years, advised Tom Pedulla of Paulick Report on March 23 that he would retire at week’s finish.
8. The Puma (9-2)
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Coach: Gustavo Delgado
House owners: OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and Excessive Step Racing
Profession document: 3 begins – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third
Profession earnings: $244,280
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 95
Kentucky Derby factors: 56
Pedigree: Important High quality – Eve of Battle, by Declaration of Battle
Coloration: Chestnut
Working fashion: Nearer
Evaluation: The Puma wanted three begins to earn the primary victory of his profession, however he did so in fashion within the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby March 7 and had proven loads of potential earlier than the breakthrough win. To start out off he led within the stretch of his profession debut Jan. 10 at Gulfstream Park earlier than settling for second behind Florida Derby opponent Chief Wallabee. The Puma subsequent completed third in his stakes debut within the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, a race received by high Kentucky Derby candidate Renegade. Then, the Important High quality colt took care of enterprise within the Tampa Bay Derby regardless of racing large all through with an attention grabbing rally to defeat Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes winner Additional Ado by three-quarters of a size. The Puma very possible earned enough qualifying factors to safe a spot within the Kentucky Derby subject along with his sport Tampa Bay Derby win, however his connections felt one other prep race would profit the evenly raced colt. Coach Gustavo Delgado completed second within the Florida Derby in 2023 with Mage, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby. The Puma’s jockey, Javier Castellano, received the 2014 Florida Derby aboard Structure and guided Mage to victory within the Kentucky Derby.
9. Gregarious (50-1)
Jockey: Rajiv Maragh
Coach: Jose Castro
Proprietor: JC Racing Secure
Profession document: 1 begin – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds
Profession earnings: $14,960
High Equibase Velocity Determine: 72
Kentucky Derby factors: 0
Pedigree: Mo City – Ultimatum, by Mineshaft
Coloration: Darkish bay or brown
Working fashion: Pacesetter
Evaluation: Gregarious virtually actually will carry the very best odds within the subject for the Florida Derby. The darkish bay or brown colt by Mo City completed second in his lone earlier begin Feb. 21 at this observe and 1 1/8-mile distance to Autobahn, who completed final of 9 within the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby final week. Gregarious would wish to spice up his Equibase Velocity Determine by about 25 factors whereas stepping as much as stakes competitors for the primary time in a serious Kentucky Derby prep race. He set robust fractions and opened up a transparent early benefit in his debut, so count on Gregarious to be outstanding early and really possible a key part in shaping the tempo of the Florida Derby. It will be a shock to see him nonetheless in competition in deep stretch.
