Sovereignty faces nine in Florida Derby; The Queens M G leads Joseph trio in Gulfstream Oaks

A rallying comeback winner in the Fountain of Youth (G2), Sovereignty will look to bolster his Kentucky Derby (G1) credentials in Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1). The Bill Mott-trained colt heads a field of 10 in the 1 1/8-mile race, a major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series offering points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the top five.

The Florida Derby highlights a stakes-packed, 14-race program that includes the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) for Kentucky Oaks (G1) prospects.

Sovereignty did not draw favorably in the far outside post, but the son of Into Mischief figures to avoid serious ground loss by dropping back at the start. The confirmed closer will pick up Manny Franco, who replaces injured regular rider Junior Alvarado, and Sovereignty will seek his third consecutive stakes win, breaking his maiden in the Street Sense (G2) at Churchill Downs in late October.

He returned from a four-month layoff in the Fountain of Youth, closing dramatically to get up by a neck in deep stretch, and Sovereignty is a candidate to keep progressing in his final Kentucky Derby prep.

Rebel (G2) runner-up Madaket Road ships in for Bob Baffert and has been installed as the early 7-2 second choice. A maiden scorer in late December, Madaket Road recorded a non-threatening third to stablemate Citizen Bull in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in his first stakes appearance but displayed improved speed in the Feb. 23 Rebel at Oaklawn Park, winding up a close second to Coal Battle. Tyler Gaffalione takes over on the gray colt and Madaket Road will remove blinkers.

Disruptor, who will try two turns and stakes competition off a brilliant 9 1/4-length maiden win in early March, is listed as the 4-1 third choice. Todd Pletcher trains the Gun Runner colt, and the early/presser retains the services of Irad Ortiz Jr., who also rode Arkansas Derby (G1) contestant Cornucopian in his previous start and appears to have opted for Disruptor.

Holy Bull (G3) runner-up Tappan Street, a sharp debut winner two back, rates as a serious contender for Brad Cox if he can overcome post 9. Luis Saez will guide the son of Into Mischief. Fountain of Youth third Neoequos, who has won or placed in his last five starts at Gulfstream, looks like a pace player from the inside with Edgard Zayas.

Completing the field are Jimmy’s Dailys and Indecisiveness, second and third to Grande in a recent 1 1/8-mile allowance; turf stakes runner-up Enterdadragon; Mucho Macho Man fifth Cool Intentions; and Puerto Rican stakes winner Smoken Boy.
 

In the Gulfstream Park Oaks, a major Road to the Kentucky Oaks qualifier worth 200 points to the top five, Davona Dale (G2) winner The Queens M G is a leading contender for Saffie Joseph, who has also entered Virginia Oaks runner-up Early On and last-out allowance romper Paradise City.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will be up on The Queens M G, who figures to be up close from the start stalking projected pacesetter Five G, who showed an affinity for Gulfstream when winning the Cash Run S. by open lengths two back. Trainer by George Weaver, Five G returns to South Florida off a good second in the Feb. 23 Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn Park, and Gaffalione will pilot the frontrunner. 

A total of seven fillies are entered for the 1 1/16-mile race.