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Gulfstream Park Produces Several Potential Derby Hotshots

By Mike Dempsey

I admit I was not completely sold on Soldat going into Saturday’s $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2), making him my second choice behind longshot Shackleford.

Soldat came into the race with six career starts, but none on a fast dirt surface. He raced three times on turf and three times on wet tracks, and was coming off a career top when he beat first level allowance foes by 10 ¾ lengths in the slop.

The Beyer Speed Figure of 103 he earned in that effort was 17 points higher than his previous best.

Horse Bettors had to ask, was the effort legit?

At a short price I was not willing to find out, but the colt managed to put in a solid effort taking the field gate to wire to win by two lengths over the always trying Gourmet Dinner.

The results came back chalky, with the winner paying $4.80 and the exacta returning $13.80.

It is on to the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on April 3 for the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee, which should be a great horse betting race.

Gourmet Dinner has enough graded earnings to lock in a spot in the starting gate on the Kentucky Derby thanks to his victory in the $1 million Delta Jackpot (G3) last December.

According to his trainer Steve Stanbridge, he will either make his final Kentucky Derby betting prep in the Florida Derby or the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 9.

The real question mark coming out of the race is To Honor and Serve, who has been one of the top early Derby favorites since winning the Nashua (G3) and Remsen (G2) last fall.

It seemed obvious that hall of fame trainer Bill Mott was not going to have the colt fully cranked for his first start off a three month layoff, and the colt looked short.

The colt now has $250,000 in graded earnings, which should be enough to safely get into the Kentucky Derby betting field.

However, for a colt that won his last three starts as a two-year-old by a combined 14 ¾ lengths, finishing 6 ¾ lengths behind the winner while not really threatening does not exactly instill much confidence that this colt has progressed.

In the $150,000 Hutcheson, the Rick Dutrow trained Flashpoint could not have been more impressive, drawing clear to win by 7 ¼ lengths in his first start against winners.

The colt broke his maiden in his debut in gate to wire fashion going six furlongs on the inner track at Aqueduct at 4/1 odds, but the Todd Pletcher trained Travelin Man took all the betting action on Saturday.

Traveling Man was sent off as the 3/5 favorite off his impressive maiden score, but had to settle for the runner up spot.

Flashpoint returned horseplayers $15.80 for the win, with the exacta paying $40.20.

Dutrow will likely send the colt long for the first time in his next start and is eyeing the Florida Derby.

The third race on last Saturday’s card, a first level allowance race may produce a Florida Derby starter.

The Allen Jerkens trainee Arch Traveler held off Nacho Business by 3/4 of a length, returning $6.20 for the victory.

Jerkens stated after the race that the Florida Derby or perhaps the $750,000 Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct on April 9 is next on the agenda for the promising son of Sky Mesa.

The horse betting action for Derby hopefuls this weekend is in New York, with the $250,000 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct on tap.

The Gotham is a key prep for the $750,000 Wood Memorial on April 9.

Among those pointing toward the Gotham include Stay Thirsty, Toby’s Corner, Nacho Saint, Norman Asbjornson, Preachintothedevil and Rescind the Trade.

If you are betting the horses and looking for full card analysis and selections for Gulfstream Park and Aqueduct, along with Mike’s Best Plays, go to our Horse Handicapping Picks Page.