Florida Derby 2024

Saturday, Mar 30, 2024 Gulfstream

Florida Derby Field

Keeneland Logo - designates Keeneland sale graduate
Post Horse Trainer/ Jockey ML Odds
1 Frankie's Empire Michael Yates Miguel Angel Vasquez 12-1
Trainer: Michael Yates Jockey: Miguel Angel Vasquez
Owner: Frank DeLuca Sire: Classic Empire
2 Hades Joseph Orseno Paco Lopez 7-2
Trainer: Joseph Orseno Jockey: Paco Lopez
Owner: D.J. Stable, LLC and Robert Cotran Sire: Awesome Slew
3 Bail Us Out Todd Pletcher Irad Ortiz Jr. 15-1
Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Owner: Repole Stable Sire: Lookin At Lucky
4 Grand Mo the First Victor Barboza Jr. Emisael Jaramillo 15-1
Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr. Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
Owner: Granpollo Stable Sire: Uncle Mo
5 Real Macho Rohan Crichton Javier Castellano 20-1
Trainer: Rohan Crichton Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Rohan Crichton, Daniel L. Walters and Dennis G. Smith Sire: Mucho Macho Man
6 Le Dom Bro Eniel Cordero Edwin Gonzalez 15-1
Trainer: Eniel Cordero Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez
Owner: Vicente Stella Stables LLC Sire: Mucho Macho Man
7 Catalytic Saffie Joseph Jr. Julien Leparoux 20-1
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr. Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Owner: Tami Bobo, Julie Davies and George G. Isaacs Sire: Catalina Cruiser
8 Seminole Chief Jack Sisterson Joel Rosario 30-1
Trainer: Jack Sisterson Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Brad Grady and David Grund Sire: Girvin
9 Conquest Warrior Claude McGaughey III Jose Ortiz 3-1
Trainer: Claude McGaughey III Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Courtlandt Farms Sire: City of Light
10 Fierceness Todd Pletcher John Velazquez 8-5
Trainer: Todd Pletcher Jockey: John Velazquez
Owner: Repole Stable Sire: City of Light
11 Iris's Dream Cheryl Winebaugh Jorge Ruiz 30-1
Trainer: Cheryl Winebaugh Jockey: Jorge Ruiz
Owner: Iris Cotto Sire: Jess's Dream

All Florida Derby News

Florida Derby: How Fierceness will perform is anyone's guess

Mike Welsch Mar 28,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Handicappers can look at the $1 million Florida Derby from six ways to Sunday but in reality the end result will likely boil down to the one question nobody can really answe

Fierceness draws outside post, made morning-line favorite for Florida Derby

Mike Welsch Mar 23,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – If there is any consolation for trainer Todd Pletcher after his 8-5 morning-line favorite Fierceness drew post position 10 for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby

Fierceness, Hades gets in final Florida Derby works

Mike Welsch Mar 22,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Several potential starters for next Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby got in their final works for the race on Friday, including Hades and Fierceness, who finish

Victory Avenue works; Florida Derby still a possibility

Mike Welsch Mar 13,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Victory Avenue, who was scratched the morning of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth after developing a minor illness, was back on the work tab here Wednesday with his connections n

Fierceness works five furlongs for Florida Derby

Mike Welsch Mar 08,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fl. - Trainer Todd Pletcher was busy on a couple of fronts during training hours Friday. At Palm Beach Downs, reigning 2-year-old champion Fierceness continued to prepare for his

Blue Grass, Florida Derby on the table for Dornoch

Mike Welsch Mar 03,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although most of the talk both before and after Dornoch’s popular victory here Saturday in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth centered around who didn’t run, rather than

Conquest Warrior gallops away; Florida Derby could be next

David Grening Mar 01,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Conquest Warrior passed his first test around two turns and against winners with an authoritative five-length victory Friday at Gulfstream Park and likely earned himself a sta

Orseno tempted by Fountain of Youth, opts for Florida Derby for Hades

Mike Welsch Feb 26,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – After briefly being tempted with the prospect of wheeling his Holy Bull winner Hades back Saturday in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, trainer Joe Orseno made the decision he

No More Time possible for either Tampa Bay Derby or Florida Derby

David Grening Feb 11,2024
The connections of Sam F. Davis Stakes winner No More Time will have plenty of time to figure out their path to try and get to the Kentucky Derby. While nothing is definite on where No More Time will

Hades, after Holy Bull upset, may wait until Florida Derby for next start

David Grening Feb 04,2024
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Hades earned his way onto the Kentucky Derby trail with his upset victory in Saturday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park. While his next step hasn’t b
About the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park

The Florida Derby, a nine-furlong race held at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., is one of the premier Kentucky Derby prep races for contenders held each spring. It is typically held on the last weekend of March or the first weekend of April. The Grade 1 race is worth $1 million and is open to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. Although fillies may run, the Florida Derby Field is typically made up of colts and geldings.

First run in 1952, winning Florida Derby horses have scored in 15 Kentucky Derby victories. The Florida Derby was a leading prep race of the most recent decade, producing horse racing contenders Orb, Nyquist, and Always Dreaming, as well as Maximum Security who crossed the finish line first in 2019 before disqualification.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez lead the pack in terms of Florida Derby wins; Pletcher has six victories andVelazquez five. Tiz the Law, who won the race in 2020, went on to take the Belmont Stakes, while 2007 hero Scat Daddy sired 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify.

The Florida Derby card has become one of the strongest for entries on the entire calendar each year. Gulfstream Park runs 10 stakes races, five graded, for purses totaling more than $2.4 million. The Grade 2, $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks on the same card is a leading Kentucky Oaks prep.

Recent Florida Derby Winners

Year Horse/Trainer Horse Trainer Beyer
2023
Todd Pletcher
Forte Todd Pletcher 96
2022
Saffie Joseph Jr.
White Abarrio Saffie Joseph Jr. 96
2021
Todd Pletcher
Known Agenda Todd Pletcher 94
2020
Barclay Tagg
Tiz the Law Barclay Tagg 96
2019
Jason Servis
Maximum Security Jason Servis 101
2018
Todd Pletcher
Audible Todd Pletcher 99
2017
Todd Pletcher
Always Dreaming Todd Pletcher 97
2016
Doug O'Neill
Nyquist Doug O'Neill 92
2015
Todd Pletcher
Materiality Todd Pletcher 110
About the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park
Q: When is the 2024 Florida Derby?

The 2024 Florida Derby will be held on Saturday, March 30, at Gulfstream Park. 

 

Q: How many Kentucky Derby qualifying points are offered in the Florida Derby?

The winning horse receives 100 points, with the second- through fifth-place horses earning 50, 25, 15, and 10 points.

 

Q: Who are some of the most famous horses to win the Florida Derby?

Florida Derby winners include Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Swale (1984), Unbridled (1990), Thunder Gulch (1995), Monarchos (2001), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Orb (2013), Nyquist (2016), and Always Dreaming (2017).

 

Q: How do you bet on the Florida Derby?

DRF Bets offers daily wagering, betting, and race viewing for the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.