BY GULFSTREAM PARK PRESS OFFICE (Edited)
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Centennial Farms’ Florida-bred star Nearly tops a list four Florida-bred among the 28 3-year-olds nominated to the 75th running of the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa (Grade 1) March 28 at Gulfstream Park.
The Diamond Anniversary of the premier prep race for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) will be featured on a $2.45 million program with 10 stakes, five graded. The nine-furlong Florida Derby will offer 200 qualifying points for this year’s Kentucky Derby on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 for the first five finishes. The Run for the Roses has been won by 26 starters in Gulfstream Park’s tradition-rich event, while 45 starters have captured 62 Triple Crown races.
Post positions for the Curlin Florida Derby will be simulcast live Saturday between Gulfstream’s third and fourth races.
Nearly, who has won three races in a row at Gulfstream by a total of 20 lengths, is coming off a dominating five-and-three-quarters-length victory in the Jan. 31 Holy Bull (G3), a mile-and-one-sixteenth Curlin Florida Derby prep, in which he dueled on a fast pace before drawing off to a dominating score. The son of Not This Time is trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, who has saddled a record eight Florida Derby winners, including 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.
Out of IB Prospecting, by Mineshaft and bred in Florida by Kris Gibbons’ Wind Hill Farm in Morriston, Nearly has career earnings of $249,900.
Nearly currently sits at No. 21 on the Derby leaderboard with 20 points earned with his victory in the Holy Bull.
Other Florida-breds nominated to the Florida Derby are Wayne’s Law, Redland Rebels and Hawk.
Wayne’s Law is ranked at 36 on Derby leaderboard with 10 points and open stakes earnings of $105,000. His open stakes appearances include a second to nominee Renegade in the $250,00 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7, winning the $75,000 Aventura Stakes at Gulfstream in September and was third in the $100,000 Jean Lafitte Futurity at Delta Downs in November.
Wayne’s Law is trained by Amador M. Sanchez for Baalbek Corp and has won two of five career starts with a second and two thirds with total earnings of $135,530. He is by Tiz the Law out of Mollie Merisa, by Harlan’s Holiday and was bred in Florida by Margaret McFarland.
Redland Rebels is No. 38 in the Derby rankings with open stakes earnings of $51,900 with his second to Thousand Sticks in the $155,000 Kitten’s Joy on the Gulfstream turf on January 31 and most recently fourth in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby won by Florida Derby nomination The Puma at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7.
Redland Rebels is by Uncle Chuck out of Kombat Cat, by D’wildcat and was bred by Melodee and Bryan Hicks’ Hickstead Farm located in Ocala. He is trained by Parick Biancone for Calypso Racing Stable LLC.
Arindel homebred Hawk is in search of his initial Kentucky Derby points for trainer Carlos A. David. The bay son of Ocala Stud’s Adios Charlie out of Brethren mare Capriati broke his maiden in December against $50,000 optional claiming maidens at Gulfsftream and in his last start was second to Timeless Victory in the first condition, $75,000 optional claiming going nine furlongs at Gulfstream Park on March 1.
The top 17 point earners will get a spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. Up to two invitations will be extended to the top point earners the Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby and one invitation will be extended to the top point-earners in the Japan Road to the Derby. The Derby field is limited to 20 starters. Last year, Baeza was the last to make the Derby field after scratching into the race with 37.5 points.
–Brock Sheridan contributed to this story
Return to the March 19 issue of Wire to Wire
