Expert Picks, Odds And Analysis For 2022 Florida Derby

An enormous day or racing Saturday at Gulfstream Park begins at 11:30 a.m. ET and options 10 stakes races headlined by the $1 million Grade I Florida Derby. The foremost Kentucky Derby Championship Sequence race drew 11 entries and is Race 14 at 6:38 p.m. ET.

4 important contenders within the Florida Derby are one’s to observe, and two have already earned sufficient points on the Derby Trail to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Basic Causeway (66 factors) gained the Sam F. Davis Stakes and Tampa Bay Derby his final two begins. Simplification (54) gained the Fountain of Youth a month in the past and completed a well-beaten second within the Holy Bull behind winner White Abarrio, who returns to the Gulfsteam monitor as a important challenger on this years 71st working of the Curlin Florida Derby, offered by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa.

High monitor announcer Pete Aiello will name the races, and the winner of the Florida Derby will earn 100 qualifying factors and a spot within the beginning gate if not already eligible for the Could 7 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

The Florida Derby can be proven stay on CNBC throughout a present from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET, as a part of NBC Sports activities “Street to the Kentucky Derby” sequence of telecasts. The protection will embody the Grade II, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks in Race 12 the place seven 3-year-old fillies will race 1 1/16 miles trying to win or end runner-up and earn a spot within the Could 6 Kentucky Oaks.

Extra racing is offered on TVG’s “Trackside Dwell” protection. Bettors trying to money in on Saturday’s huge races may take a look at the TVG Florida Derby betting guide. A number one on-line wagering platform, TVG additionally offers handicapping instruments and sources to offer extra perception and data you’ll be able to wager for all the most important stakes races plus Florida Derby contenders and evaluation.

Florida Derby Favorites and High Contenders

• Cost It: Coach Todd Pletcher is the king of the Florida Derby having gained the race seven occasions. This yr he’s represented by Cost It – a royally bred colt, by Tapit out of I’ll Take Cost (an Indian Charlie daughter of blue hen Take Cost Girl). Cost It’s an off-the-pace runner who missed by a neck on debut at Gulfstream on January 8 however wired the sector and gained by 8 1/2-lengths there February 22. Cost It does strive each two-turns and winners for the primary time. Pletcher has by no means gained the Florida Derby with a horse stepping straight up from maiden firm, and two of his six winners had by no means tried stakes firm earlier than. However Horse Racing Nation (HRN) provides that main Gulfstream jockey Luis Saez has a pointy working and enhancing colt to journey with capability, stamina and regarded a high win contender.

• Basic Causeway: A number of graded stakes positioned at age 2, Basic Causeway emerged as one of many leaders on the Kentucky Derby path at Tampa Bay Downs. The Brian Lynch trainee gained the Sam F. Davis (G3) with full authority and seemed equally robust when profitable the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). Nonetheless, the Kentucky Derby file of the Tampa Bay preps is just not as robust because the Florida Derby, which means this race can be an important check for this member of Big’s Causeway’s three-horse ultimate crop. The HRN Tremendous Screener time-tested racing methodology says this win contender is greatest on or close to the lead, and high jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. will get him to the entrance with the brief run to the primary flip.
• Pappacap: Promising at age 2, this Mark Casse trainee comes into the Florida Derby with one thing to show. Although he hit the board within the Lecomte, ending third behind Name Me Midnight, he broke a step gradual and failed to fireplace within the Risen Star (G2), working eighth. This son of Gun Runner has an opportunity to proper the ship within the Florida Derby. He’s a presser with pace and tactical capability, however wants to indicate higher indicators of stamina within the late phases.
• Simplification: Coach Antonio Sano has run this son of Not This Time in each race down the Gulfstream spur of the Kentucky Derby path, and he simply retains exhibiting up. Simplification romped within the Mucho Macho Man on New Yr’s Day, then chased house White Abarrio for second within the Holy Bull regardless of a poor break. Simplification got here away higher within the Fountain of Youth, and closed to win decisively as the favourite.
• White Abarrio: A winner twice at Gulfstream final autumn, this Saffie Joseph trainee examined his class within the Kentucky Jockey Membership (G2) final yr and completed third behind Smile Blissful in what has emerged as probably the most stay Derby prep of the yr to date. In his solely begin at three, this grey son of Race Day prompted the tempo and completed filled with run to take the Holy Bull in what the HRN Tremendous Screener says was the most effective performances on the Derby Path to this point.

The Street to the Kentucky Derby is absolutely heating up. Saturday’s outcomes from the three main Derby prep and factors races – Florida Derby, Arkansas Derby and Jeff Ruby Steaks – will present extra readability and Kentucky Derby odds changes because the Run for the Roses nears on Saturday, Could 7 at Churchill Downs.

You’ll be able to wager on it.