Historic Florida Derby Attracts a Large Field

By: Greg Melikov

If the size of the $1 million Florida Derby field is any indication, it’s going to be a wide-open affair. As many as a dozen sophomores could be battling it out Saturday afternoon.

Over the past four decades I’ve witnessed just about every race, mostly in person, but some on TV or via simulcast. Quite a few have been impressive, but my fondest memory goes back to 1995 when I was trackside at Gulfstream Park.

It pitted favored Suave Prospect against Thunder Gulch and eight others. I had seen their exciting duel in the Fountain of Youth (FOY) weeks earlier when Thunder Gulch triumphed by a neck when the distance was 1 1/16 miles. The winner paid a handsome $11.40.

In the Florida Derby when the purse was $500,000, Suave Prospect was part of a three-horse entry favored over Thunder Gulch on my birthday, March 11.

Jerry Bailey, back aboard Suave Prospect, was hotter than a summer day in South Florida. He scored repeatedly. Mike Smith returned on Thunder Gulch. Both colts stalked pacesetters until the far turn. Then Bailey gunned Suave Prospect from fourth to the lead, 1 1/2 lengths ahead in the upper stretch.

Under strong handling, Thunder Gulch closed the gap while forced inward, wore down Suave Prospect and won by a nose, the third of five such Florida Derby finishes since ‘60. However, Bailey set the record for most victories by a jockey on a Gulfstream afternoon – seven.

After finishing fourth in the Blue Grass, Thunder Gulch went off at 25-1 in the 121st Kentucky Derby and, with Gary Stevens aboard, edged Tejano Run, ridden by Bailey.
Suave Prospect, with Julie Krone in the reins, ran 11th, followed by Talkin Man, ridden by Smith.

Most starters in the 57th running of Gulfstream’s showcase event at 1 1/8 miles have at least one trip over the main track while several of them have won stakes.

Smooth Air did it this year in his 3-year-old debut on a sloppy track, winning the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes on Jan. 5. Then the son of Smooth Jazz ran third to Fierce Wind on Feb. 16 in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs. He worked seven furlongs in 1:23 3/5 on March 16 at Gulfstream.

Fierce Wind is seeking his fourth straight, which includes an allowance victory at Gulfstream on Jan. 21. The son of Dixie Union breezed four furlongs in 49 second on March 18 at the Palm Meadows Training Center.

Elysium Fields, runner-up in the FOY at 1 1/8 miles, broke his maiden on Jan. 19 at the same distance. The son of El Prado zipped six furlongs in 1:12 handily on March 18 at Gulfstream.

Majestic Warrior, last year’s Hopeful Stakes winner, finished seventh in the Louisiana Derby on March 8 at Fair Grounds. The son of A. P. Indy breezed four furlongs in 49 2/5 on March 19 at Payson Park.

Tomcito tries his luck stateside for his 3-year-old debut after winning two Grade 1 stakes in Peru. The son of Street Cry blazed five furlongs in 58 4/5 on March 17 at Gulfstream.

Others in the mix have no victories in stakes, but three have taken their last two in a row at Gulfstream: B B Frank, Face the Cat and Hey Byrn. In addition, Big Brown, Da’ Tara and Nistle’s Crunch won once at the South Florida track.

A half-dozen horses in the past three decades captured the Florida and Kentucky derbies: Barbaro, ‘06; Monarchos, ‘01; Thunder Gulch, ‘95; Unbridled, ‘90; Swale, ‘84; and Spectacular Bid, ‘79, who also took the Hutcheson and FOY, the Flamingo at defunct Hialeah and the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Nineteen horses that raced in the Florida Derby, including 10 that won, were successful on the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs.

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    Greg Melikov, a native Chicagoan and retired South Florida newspaperman who resides in Greater San Antonio, has been handicapping and writing about thoroughbreds for decades. His articles and columns appear globally in print and online, including on his own site: www.horsingaround.info. He became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park. He can be contacted at gmelikov@satx.rr.com.

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