BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Centennial Farms’ Nearly leads a trio of Florida-breds into Saturday’s 75th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa at Gulfstream Park, a major stepping-stone on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Nine 3-year-olds, including additional Florida-breds Wayne’s Law and Redland Rebels, will go a mile-and-an-eighth while also competing for 200 Kentucky Derby qualifying points allocated to the top five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.

First run in 1952, the Florida Derby has produced 26 winners of the Kentucky Derby—more than any other race—and 63 winners of Triple Crown races.

Among the 13 Florida-bred winners of the Florida Derby, Needles (1956), Carry Back (1961) and Unbridled (1990) have gone on to win the Run for the Roses. Needles also took the 1956 Belmont Stakes while Carry Back won the 1962 Preakness.

A total of 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.675 million in purses comprise a blockbuster 14-race Florida Derby Day program with a post time of 11:30 a.m. ET. There are 14 Florida-breds listed among the entries for the 10 stakes.

Nearly takes a three-race win streak into the Florida Derby.

Sixth in his unveiling last fall at Aqueduct, the Not This Time colt is undefeated at Gulfstream starting with a six-furlongs maiden special weight triumph facing Florida-breds in November. He then won a first condition, $75,000 optional claiming on January 2 and romped in the mile-and-one-sixteenth Holy Bull (G3) on January 31 in his two-turn debut, his three wins coming by 20 combined lengths. He has earned $249,900 from three wins in four starts.

 

Nearly breezed four furlongs in :49.16 Saturday at Palm Beach Downs, fastest of 16 horses. He will break from post six under Hall of Famer John Velazquez, whose six Florida Derby victories are the most of any rider. Each of them have been with Nearly’s Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who owns a record eight wins in the Florida Derby.

Out of the Mineshaft mare Ib Prospecting, Nearly was bred in Florida by Kristine Gibbons’ Wind Hill Farm located in Morriston, Florida. Centennial Farm got Nearly for $350,000 out of the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where he was consigned by Denali Stud.

Nearly currently ranks third on the Daily Racing Form Derby Watch List of 20, which mirrors the maximum number of Kentucky Derby starters. He currently sits at No. 24 in the Kentucky Derby standings with 20 points.

He is rated third choice on the morning line at 3-1.

Christian Abumohor’s Baalbek Corporation owns Wayne’s Law, a son of 2020 Florida Derby-winner Tiz the Law trained by Amador Sanchez. He most recently finished second to Renegade in the $210,000 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7, two-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Florida Derby-rival The Puma.

Wayne’s Law made his first three career starts at Gulfstream, beating Florida-bred maidens second time out and subsequently winning the one-mile, $72,000 Aventura by seven-and-a-half lengths in September. In one other start last year, he was third in the $100,000 Jean Lafitte at Delta Downs on November 26.

Wayne’s Law has earned $135,530 from two wins in five starts with a second and two thirds. He is out of Mollie Merisas, by Harlan’s Holiday and was bred in Florida by the late Margaret McFarland.

A two-time graduate of Ocala Breeders’ Sales company, Wayne’s Law did not meet his reserve at the 2024 Winter Mixed Sale but sold for $25,000 to Baalbek Corporation out of the JP Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2025 March Sale of 2-year-olds in training.

Marcos Meneses will ride from post three and Wayne’s Law is 15-1 on the morning line.

Wayne’s Law ranks at No. 40 on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 10 points and non-restricted stakes earnings of $105,000.

Redland Rebels enters off a fourth-place finish in the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3), his first race on dirt since finishing fourth in on debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream in July. In two subsequent starts on the Gulfstream Park grass, Redland Rebels won a one-mile maiden special weight by nearly seven lengths in August and was second in the $155,000 Kitten’s Joy (Listed) going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on January 31.

Trained by Patrick Biancone for Calypso Racing Stables, Redland Rebels has earned $104,500. He is by Uncle Chuck out of Kombat Cat, by D’wildcast and was bred in Florida by Melody and Bryan Hicks’ Hickstead Farm in Ocala.

Bloodstock agent Mark O’Brien bought Redland Rebels for Calypso Stables for $25,000 out of Richard Kent’s Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS October Yearling Sale.

Joel Rosario will ride Redland Rebels from post six and he is 15-1 on the morning line. Redland Rebels is also entered in Saturday’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Also set for the Florida Derby are Albus with Tyler Gaffalione named to ride, 2-1 morning line favorite Chief Wallabee, who was second in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and jockey Junior Alvarado, Fountain of Youth-winner Commandment, the 5-2 second choice on the morning with Flavien Prat up; Jose Morelos rides Timeless Victory, The Puma will have Javier Castellano in the irons and Rajiv Maragh as the assignment on Gregarious.

–Portions of this article were taken directly from a Gulfstream Park press release.

Return to the March 26 issue of Wire to Wire