HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Although the reigning 2-year-old champion Fierceness and Holy Bull winner Hades are expected to be in the starting gate for the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby on March 30, the “wise guy” horse for many players coming into the race is Conquest Warrior. An up-and-coming member of the 3-year-old division, Conquest Warrior is trained by Shug McGaughey, who hopes the City of Light colt can follow in the footsteps of Orb, who parlayed his victory in the 2013 Florida Derby into a Kentucky Derby win five weeks later. Conquest Warrior has started three times, having finished a well-beaten third over a muddy track in his lone try at 2 before posting a pair of local victories to launch his 3-year-old campaign. After overcoming early trouble and a brutal trip to win his maiden in eye-catching fashion going a mile Jan. 13, Conquest Warrior dominated first-level allowance opposition by five lengths when stretched to 1 1/8 miles seven weeks later. Owned by Courtlandt Farms, Conquest Warrior earned an 84 Beyer Speed Figure in his last two starts and had Jose Ortiz aboard. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2024: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more McGaughey has worked Conquest Warrior twice since his latest victory, including five furlongs in company with Corporate Power in a bullet 1:01 with Ortiz aboard last Saturday at Payson Park. Corporate Power is another promising 3-year-old owned by Courtlandt Farms who won his maiden going 1 1/8 miles here last month. “He’s doing good. He looks good, and I can’t second guess any of his training,” McGaughey said of Conquest Warrior on Sunday. “I moved his work up a day or so because Jose [Ortiz] was going to be at Payson [on Saturday] and was able to work him, and he went very well.” McGaughey said pace could be the key factor when it comes to Conquest Warrior’s chances of winning the Florida Derby. “It really depends on the speed,” McGaughey offered. “If Fierceness gets away good and nobody goes with him, he’s going to be tough. Although I guess we still have to see if he’s genuine or not. I think my horse is genuine, and the distance should benefit him, but at this point who knows how good he really is.” Conquest Warrior is one of a handful of confirmed starters for the Florida Derby along with Fierceness, Hades, Real Macho, and Fountain of Youth runner-up Le Dom Bro, with the maiden Victory Avenue also considered a possible starter. Trainer Danny Gargan is still undecided regarding the next start for Fountain of Youth winner Dornoch, with the Florida Derby or Blue Grass one week later his two options at this point. Entries for the entire Florida Derby Day program will be drawn Saturday. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.