Chief Wallabee, runner-up in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is the slight 2-1 favorite for the 75th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28. The 1 1/8-mile race, a key Kentucky Derby qualifier offering 200 points to the top five finishers, features a competitive field of nine 3-year-olds. Other top contenders include Commandment, the Fountain of Youth winner trained by Brad Cox at 5-2 odds, and Nearly, undefeated in three starts and trained by Todd Pletcher, listed at 3-1.
The Florida Derby Day card includes 10 stakes races totaling $2.675 million in purses, with first post at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Notable horses also include The Puma, winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), Wayne’s Law, second in the Sam F. Davis, and Timeless Victory, a multiple allowance winner. Jockeys such as Junior Alvarado, Flavien Prat, John Velazquez, and Javier Castellano will ride the favorites, making this a highly anticipated prep race for the Kentucky Derby.
