Audible wins Florida Derby to score Kentucky Derby spot
AUDIBLE ran away in the stretch to win the Grade 1 Florida Derby, further cementing himself as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby.
An eight-week lay-off was no problem for Audible, who will take a four-race winning streak into the Triple Crown campaign that starts at Churchill Downs on May 5.
He finished the 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park in 1:49.48, and delivered the fifth Florida Derby win to both jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher.
And now, barring some sort of problem, it’s off to Churchill Downs. “If he comes out of it well, that’s our goal,” Pletcher said. Recent history says that Audible will now have a great chance at the Kentucky Derby. Each of the last two Florida Derby winners — Always Dreaming last year and Nyquist in 2016 — went on to win the Run for the Roses.
Hofburg was second, Mis- sissippi took third and Catholic Boy — the second choice in the betting behind only Audible, who was sent off at 8-5 odds — was fourth.
“I think we’re all pleased,” said Bill Mott, Hofburg’s trainer.
“Naturally, winning would have been the only thing that would have been better but he ran well and he galloped out well.”
The win gave Audible 100 points in the Kentucky Derby standings, far more than enough to clinch his spot in the field. Hofburg is almost certainly assured a spot as well.
Promises Fulfilled, the Fountain of Youth winner at Gulfstream earlier this month, went right to the lead out of the gate, as did Strike Power. They set a blazing early fraction, while the other seven starters merely sat back and waited for the initial speed to fade.
Audible waited outside a cluster of four horses, and began his big move near the far turn.
By the time they were in the final straight, it was over.
“I was a little worried when they turned up the backside, because we got into the first turn in exactly the position we wanted to get into,” Pletcher said.
“He kind of fell back a little bit and I was a little bit worried because that’s normally not Johnny’s style ... but once he found his rhythm on the back side, I felt much better.”