Florida Derby: Most Successful Stop on Road to Triple Crown

By David Joseph —-

Florida Derby: Most Successful Stop on Road to Triple Crown

Last 11 Derby Winners Won Previous Start

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa has become widely recognized as the most successful stop on the Road to the Triple Crown, having produced 59 winners in the historic Spring Classic series from 46 starters in Gulfstream Park’s tradition-rich stakes for 3-year-olds.

Since the inaugural running of the Florida Derby in 1952, starters in the 1 1/8-mile stakes have gone on to win 25 runnings of the Kentucky Derby (G1) – a 33 percent success rate from 72 editions of prep. Mage captured last year’s Run for the Roses following a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby.

While the Florida Derby is one of the surest routes to Triple Crown glory, there has been no firm formula for success in Gulfstream Park’s prestigious prep the past 25 years. Yet, a recent trend has developed among its winners – entering the Florida Derby in winning form. Last year, Forte became the 11th consecutive Florida Derby winner coming off a victory, whether it came in the Fountain of Youth (G2), Holy Bull (G3), a handicap, an allowance or an out-of-state stakes.

Horses entered in Saturday’s Derby coming off a victory are Hades, Bail Us Out, Seminole Chief, Conquest Warrior, and Iris’s Dream.

During the past 25 years, Fountain of Youth starters have gone on to win the Florida Derby nine times. The second-most successful formula for Florida Derby success has been to prep against non-stakes company. Eight Florida Derby winners were allowance or starter allowance participants. The Holy Bull had the third-highest Florida Derby success rate among its starters with five winners in Gulfstream’s premier Triple Crown prep – four of whom won the 1 1/16-mile stakes.

All but two of the last 25 Florida Derby winners raced at Gulfstream Park in their final prep. Nyquist (2016), who won the San Vicente (G2) at Santa Anita before winning the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, and Empire Maker (2003), who finished second in the Sham Stakes and went on to finish second in the Kentucky Derby and win the Belmont Stakes (G1), both prepped at Santa Anita.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has saddled a record seven winners in the Florida Derby. All seven had won their Florida Derby prep races. Scat Daddy (2007), Quality Road (2009) and Forte (2023) won the Fountain of Youth. Audible (2018) captured the Holy Bull. Constitution (2024), Always Dreaming (2017), and Known Agenda (2021) all came off allowance scores. Materiality (2015) parlayed an Islamorada Handicap victory into Florida Derby glory. Always Dreaming went on to capture the Kentucky Derby.

Pletcher-trained Fierceness, who was voted 3-year-old Eclipse Award champion after capturing the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita, is expected to be heavily favored to win Saturday’s Florida Derby.

The son of 2019 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) winner City of Light finished a disappointing third in the Feb. 3 Holy Bull following a troubled start and a wide trip. He would become the first Pletcher trainee to capture the Florida Derby following a loss in his final prep, as well as the first Florida Derby winner coming off a defeat since Take Charge Indy, who had finished second in an allowance before scoring in 2012.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); the Maryland Jockey Club at Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and XBTV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information, please email david.joseph@gulfstreampark.com, visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.