2025 Florida Derby Day

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Luis Saez celebrates aboard Tappan Street after winning the Florida Derby

2025 Florida Derby Day

Date: 03/29/2025

The highlight of the Gulfstream Park meeting for Triple Crown season is the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'N' Dale Farms at Xalapa, a major prep for the Kentucky Derby worth 100 points to the winner as part of the Kentucky Derby Championship Series.

Down the stretch in the Florida Derby
Conditions were excellent at the Hallandale Beach oval, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 80's, with the main track fast and the turf going firm. A field of 10 three-year-olds contested this 1 1/8 mile trip on Saturday afternoon, one complete lap of the main track. Sovereignty was sent off as the 8-5 favorite off wins in the Street Sense (G3) and Fountain of Youth (G2). In to challenge him included 9-4 second choice Tappan Street, second in the Holy Bull (G3), and 3-1 third choice Disruptor off his maiden win at second asking.

Jockey Mike Smith sent 5-1 fourth choice Madaket Road to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.37, 47.22, and 1:11.61 while pressed by 11-1 Neoequos and stalked by 111-1 Indecisiveness. Turning for home Madaket Road tired allowing Neoequos to inherit the lead through 1 mile in 1:36.59, but Tappan Street, fourth early under Luis Saez, moved out 3 wide and rallied to win by 1 1/4 lengths over late-running favorite Sovereignty in 1:49.27. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Neoequos third.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 9 Tappan Street Saez 6.80 3.40 2.60 10 Sovereignty Franco 2.60 2.10 1 Neoequos Zayas 4.20 Winning Time: 1:49.27 $1 Exacta 9-10 7.20 $1 Trifecta 9-10-1 39.20 $1 Superfecta 9-10-1-8 129.60
Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Tappan Street in the winners circle. Elliott Walden, CEO of winning owner WinStar Farm said, "He really ran like we thought he would. We've given him the time after the Holy Bull because we thought he was this type of horse, and it was nice for him to show up. He's taken that step now and I think he's going to be a very live horse going into the Kentucky Derby."

Right: Tappan Street in his winner's blanket. Winning trainer Brad Cox said, "Anytime you have a young horse like this and you give them eight weeks between starts, it's always a concern. But this is a very smart horse. He's intelligent. I thought he would break very, very well today the way he was training, and he did. That put him in the race and put him in a great position. We have five weeks. We have to make sure he comes out of it in good order, first and foremost. Our plan right now is Monday or Tuesday to ship him to Churchill. Hopefully, he comes out of it in good order and we can march forward. I think he's going to get a tremendous amount out of this."

Left: Tappan Street walks over before the race. Winning jockey Luis Saez said, "Everything went to plan. He broke from there pretty well. He was in good position. The whole way I had a lot of horse. We knew the speed was inside and we followed the speed. Everything came out perfect. He was traveling professionally today. I saw [Sovereignty] and I let my horse go a little bit more, and he gave me a good turn of foot. When he came to the top of the stretch, I knew it was going to be tough to catch [us]. As soon as we broke from the gate, I had a lot of confidence the whole way. I knew he was going to give me a good turn of foot at the top of the stretch. He always does."

Right: Tappan Street in the post parade. Cox added, "Luis was very high on him after he broke his maiden. He was very high on him after the Holy Bull. He had a lot of confidence in him and it all came together today. This is a step forward today. His numbers his first two starts were really good. I felt like the two-month lead up to the Florida Derby would propel him forward."

Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Sovereignty in the post parade. Trainer Bill Mott said, "The winner ran good. It was a good race. This doesn't have to be his best race. Sometimes you can look at it and say, maybe that's a good thing. You don't want their best race before the big event. This is a very important race, but I think the fact that he ran very big last time and ran very well this time, maybe he'll continue to improve. I don't think the fact that he didn't win doesn't mean he didn't run a good race."

Right: Third place finisher Neoequos walks over before the race. Jockey Edgard Zayas said, "He ran a huge race. We got the trip we wanted. He set up perfect in a stalking position. We were able to slow the pace and he was great. He really finished up pretty nice. We wanted to get running out of there and then kind of get running to the outside and after that, if I had the horse, get it done."

Left: The trophy presentation for the Florida Derby with trainer Brad Cox in the blue suit to the far left.

Right: The horses break from the gate for the Florida Derby.

The distaff counterpart to the Florida Derby is the $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, worth 100 points to the winner as part of the Kentucky Oaks Championship Series for 3-year-old fillies. Honeybee (G3) runner-up Five G was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the field of 6 over 9-5 second choice The Queens M G, winner of the Davona Dale (G2), and 4-1 third choice Paradise City off an allowance win after finishing second in the Cash Run.

Jockey Manny Franco sent Five G to the lead first time by through fractions of 23.63, 47.11, and 1:11.19 while pressed by 8-1 Anna's Promise and stalked by The Queens M G. Turning for home, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. pulled up The Queens M G after a bad step. Five G cruised to a 2 1/4 length win over Anna's Promise in 1:43.22. It was a long 10 1/4 lengths back to late-running 15-2 Cassiar third. The Queens M G was vanned back to the barn with knee surgery scheduled soon, but was immediately retired by owner C2 Racing Stable.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Five G heads to the winner's circle. Winning trainer George Weaver said, "Thinking about the Kentucky Oaks and the placement of this race, and being able to stay here and going to Kentucky just for the Oaks, we liked that a little better. She's been a nice surprise. She was a nice New York-bred during the summer. When I brought her down here, I thought, 'Wow we might have something here.' It just keeps getting tougher from this point."

Right: Five G heads back to the barn. Winning jockey Manny Franco said, "It's been a while but I'm happy to be here again and have the opportunity to ride these amazing horses today. George told me to ride with confidence, she's a nice filly. If I end up on the lead, that's fine; if somebody wants to go use your Plan B. She broke good, I took advantage of that and I dictated the pace. She was there all the way for me."

Left: Second place finisher Anna's Promise in the post parade. Trainer Carlos David said, "I'm really proud of her. I told Luis not to take the speed away from her. She has tactical speed. I think we were in a better position this time because we were on the outside versus being on the rail. I said if she wants to sit second, that's good. If Saffie goes second, then sit third. She ran a great race. I thought before the quarter pole we had a shot. She tried hard. We got some points, so we'll see what happens from here."

Right: Third place finisher Cassiar returns after the race. The Shug McGaughey trainee improved her record to 1 win and 1 third in 2 starts, earning $46,060 for owner William Farish.

The $165,000 Orchid Stakes (G3) featured a field of 6 older fillies and mares going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. The Very One (G3) winner Beach Bomb was sent off as the 8-5 favorite over 9-5 second choice La Mehana, third in The Very One and La Prevoyante (G3), and 11-4 third choice Silvology off an allowance win.

Jockey Luis Saez sent Beach Bomb to the lead first time by through easy fractions of 24.19, 48.56, 1:13.33, 1:37.49, and 2:00.55 while pressed by 45-1 longest shot My Brazilian Girl and stalked by 15-2 fourth choice Queen Regent. Turning for home Beach Bomb opened up a 2 length lead but held off late-running Silvology late to win by a head in 2:24.29. It was a neck back to La Mehana third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Beach Bomb in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Graham Motion said, "I left it up to Luis. She was drawn on the outside, so it was perfect. He could make the call what he wanted to do. I didn't really give him any instructions. After last time, what was I going to say? We went quite a lot quicker today, so I was worried about the mile and a half. I don't know that's what she wants to do. I think she gets away with it here. What a nice filly." I think people don't realize what these [South African horses] went through last year. They came a year ago and they spent two months locked up in a small quarantine barn, so I think having a little break after Breeders' Cup really allowed them to grow up and kind of be themselves. I think the time has done them a lot of good, I really do."

Right: Beach Bomb heads out to the track. Winning jockey Luis Saez said, "I was a little worried, actually, when we came into the top of the stretch because she went a little bit further [today]. But she kept responding, and a good thing she held on. She always tries pretty hard. She was getting a little tired. But we knew that was going to happen because there was more distance today. Last time she surprised me. It was not the plan to be on the lead. But she's been breaking pretty good, so we took the lead today. We knew she doesn't have to be on the lead, but she breaks pretty well and we didn't want to take anything away from her."

Left: Second place finisher Silvology returns after the race. Jockey Dylan Davis said, "I thought she was going to break a lot better than she did, but she broke slow. I saved ground those first two turns but I had to get her running into that last turn and I had to go with that three-, four-wide trip into that last turn. She still ran great coming from way out of it. One more jump I'm right there."

Right: Third place finisher La Mehana heads out to the track. The Christophe Clement trainee improved her record to 7 wins, 1 second, and 6 thirds in 21 starts, earning $443,322 for owner LSU Stables.

A field of 8 older horses went 1 1/2 miles on the turf in the $200,000 Pan American Stakes (G3) presented by Rood & Riddle. Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) 9th place finisher Far Bridge was sent off as the 9-10 favorite over 3-1 second choice Capture the Flag, winner of the Mac Diarmida (G2), and 13-2 third choice Cash Equity, 3rd in the Mac Diarmida fter finishing 2nd in the William McKnight (G3).

Jockey Javier Castellano sent 10-1 Corruption to lead through quick fractions of 23.67, 47.67, 1:11.30, 1:35.37. and 1:58.98 while pressed by 7-1 fourth choice Tawny Port and stalked by Far Bridge and Capture the Flag. Turning for home Far Bridge gained the lead and outfinished Corruption to win by a neck in 2:22.73, just 1/10 second off the course record. It was a long 3 3/4 lengths back to 43-1 longest shot Padiddle third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Far Bridge in the winner's circle. Miguel Clement, assistant to father and winning trainer Christophe Clement said, "He's always shown an affinity for Gulfstream. I think he's four for four. His works have been very promising. He ran true to form. They just ran in 2:22 and change, so I feel like he was tight enough. He ran very well. It was definitely impressive. We'll go Man o' War, Manhattan. Those are the two most logical spots. Class prevailed today.

Right: Far Bridge returns after the race. Winning jockey Joel Rosario said, "I thought we were going to be more forwardly placed. The pace was a little bit faster. Going into the first turn I had to take a little hold. But everything worked out good. He was the best horse in the race. I was just trying to give him a good trip."

Left: Second place finisher Corruption in the post parade. Jockey Javier Castellano said, "I had to ride him a little bit. When he hooked up with the other horse, I think he start figuring it out the last part of the race. He got beat by the bob by a better horse. It was a great effort. He stopped up in class and he showed up."

Right: Third place finisher Padiddle in the post parade. The Fernando Abreu trainee improved his record to 1 win, 3 seconds, and 3 thirds in 9 starts, earning $145,335 for owner Imaginary Stables.

A field of 6 older horses contested the $160,000 Ghostzapper Stakes (G3) presented by FanDuel TV at 1 1/8 miles on the main track. Pegasus World Cup (G1) winner and 2023 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio was sent off as the 1-20 favorite over 8-1 second choice Tuscan Sky, 6th in the Mineshaft (G3), and 14-1 third choice Power Squeeze, 8th in the Pegasus World Cup.

30-1 longshot One Sharp Cookie was quickest away through an opening quarter in 22.82 before White Abarrio took over through fractions of 25.98 and 1:10.44 pressed by Power Squeeze and stalked by One Sharp Cookie. Into the stretch, White Abarrio opened a 3 length lead through 1 mile in 1:35.53. Kept to task by Irad Ortiz Jr., White Abarrio drew off to win by 5 1/4 lengths over Power Squeeze in 1:41.97. It was another length back to Tuscan Sky third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: White Abarrio in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said, "At the quarter-pole, obviously I knew they were going quick and I was looking to see if the race was going to fall apart," he said. "He's just in a different league right now. Hopefully, he stays healthy after this. We feel like he's the best horse in the country. "Perfect prep (for the Metropolitan Handicap). You obviously want to make it as easy as possible, and you want to win. You don't want to get beat. I though he won as easy as he could after going so quick early," Joseph said. 'I haven't seen go under 1:42 in a long time on this track. I know they got a little moisture in it but not enough to make it that fast."

Right: White Abarrio returns after the race. Winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. said, "Beautiful. He broke good again, and when he breaks like that he makes things easier. I didn't do too much. I just let him be him, and that was it. I let him be him every step of the way."

Left: Second place finisher Power Squeeze in the post parade. The Jorge Delgado trainee improved her record to 6 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third in 14 starts, earning $1,017,150 for owner Lea Farms.

Right: Third place finisher Tuscan Sky returns after the race. The Todd Pletcher trainee improved his record to 3 wins, 1 second, and 1 third in 9 starts, earning $251,850 for owner Repole Stable.

The horses break from the gate for the Ghostzapper Stakes.

The $100,000 Sanibel Island Stakes featured a field of 10 three-year-old fillies going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. 17-2 Bunratty Manor set the pace of 23.09 and 46.56 while pressed by 51-1 longest shot Temple City Taboo and stalked by 26-1 La Cantera. Into the lane the pacesetters tired as 12-1 Spirited Boss, 5th early under Javier Castellano, swept to the lead 3 wide through 3/4 in 1:10.35. Spirited Boss held off late-running 9-1 Candy Quest to win by 1/2 a length in 1:27.34. It was another 1/2 length back to 3-1 second choice Civetta third, while 5-2 favorite Love Cervere finished 5th beaten 3 lengths.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Spirited Boss returns after the race. Winning trainer Jose D'Angelo said, "She was special since day one. I know she run three times, won two, but I was learning more from her. But on the grass she was different. We made the decision to run her on the grass because she can show what she did in the morning."

Right: Spirited Boss in the post parade.

The $165,000 Army Mule Stakes featured a field of 9 older horses sprinting 7 furlongs on the main track. 17-1 Lovo Abarrio led through fractions of 22.42 and 44.70 pressed by 11-1 Of a Revolution and stalked by 6-5 favorite Inveigled. Into the stretch 4-1 third choice Implementation swept to the lead 5 wide through 3/4 in 1:09.69. Kept to task by Manny Franco, Implementation drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths over Inveigled in 1:22.48. It was another 1/2 length back to 19-2 Howgreatisnate third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Implementation in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said, "He got a very good trip. He was inside and then he was able to get him out. Manny rode him great and he got the right pace to run into."

Right: Implementation heads back to the barn. Joseph added, "That's about as good as he is, he's just a little bit below graded [company]. Can he win the right graded race? Yes. Today, I was very proud of him because he normally makes a run and flattens out. Today he sustained the run."

A field of 9 older fillies and mares contested the $150,000 Sand Springs Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on turf. 26-1 Spinning Colors led through fractions of 23.23, 45.26, and 1:08.42 while pressed by 77-1 longest shot Blind Spot and stalked by 3-1 second choice Movin' On Up. Turning for home, jockey Edgard Zayas sent Movin' On Up through on the rail to gain the lead through 1 mile in 1:32.43, and drew off to win by 3 lengths over late-running 10-1 Five Towns in a new track record 1:38.01. It was another 3/4 length back to 5-1 third choice Breath Away third, while 5-2 favorite In Our Time checked in 6th beaten 5 1/4 lengths.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Movin' On Up in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said, "We brought her back quick because Mr. Ramsey was trying to get another winner for the (owners) title. He didn't need it, but she won impressively, especially for coming back in two weeks. Perfect trip, perfect ride. She'll get a little break now."

Right: Movin' On Up gets hosed off after the race.

Immediately before the Florida Derby, a field of 11 older horses contested the $165,000 Appleton Stakes presented by MyRacehorse at 1 mile on the turf. J12-1 Portofino set the pace of 23.45, 47.20, and 1:10.80 while pressed by 7-2 second choice Seminole Chief and stalked by 15-2 Abrumar. Into the stretch Portofino continued to lead through 7f in 1:22.45 but Seminole Chief under Dylan Davis edged clear in the final furlong to win by 3/4 length in 1:33.91. It was a nose back to Abrumar third, and another 1/2 length back to 11-10 favorite Major Dude fourth.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Seminole Chief returns after the race. Winning trainer Jack Sisterson said, "I think he's just a good horse on any surface. He's won on the dirt, Tapeta and grass, and he's fast."

Right: Seminole Chief heads back to the barn.

Kicking off the Saturday stakes action was the $165,000 Cutler Bay Stakes featuring 8 three-year-olds going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf. 4-5 favorite Forged Steel set the pace of 23.11, 45.77, and 1:08.89 while pressed by 11-2 Wakan and stalked by 7-1 I'm Due. Forged Steel continued to lead to midstretch but 13-2 Classic of Course, 5th early under Frankie Dettori, came out 4 wide and rallied to win by 3/4 length in 1:26.48. It was another 3/4 length back to I'm Due third.

Results Chart from DRF.

Left: Classic of Course returns after the race. Winning trainer Patrick Biancone said, "His ranking for me [among 3-year-olds] he maybe 19, 23, 24 in the country, but it's tough in the Derby, we don't want to kill him. If you cannot win, you better take another way. As he seems to go as fast on the turf as he does on the dirt, we'll run on Derby day but the other race." Winning jockey Frankie Dettori said, "Patrick said try to take the break, I tried, but they were going too fast for me. I tucked him on the fence, Paco had the spot that I wanted. I had to go wide, but he was full of momentum and he did the rest."

Right: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Forged Steel in the post parade.

Photos courtesy of Amber Chalfin of Downthestretchphotos.com.

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