Horse Wagering

Bet On The Florida Derby

This weekend, the Sunshine State will host what is arguably the most important Kentucky Derby prep race in North America.

The Grade 1 Florida Derby will take place on Saturday at Gulfstream Park near Miami and will have a $1 million purse, the richest of the prep races.

This year, the race will feature 11 three-year-olds. Owned by Lael Stables, Barbaro opened as the favorite on the morning line at 8-5.

Barbaro, who will be ridden by Edgar Prado and will have post position No. 10, has won all four of the races he has entered including the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes which took place at Gulfstream in February.

Holding the second-best wagering odds is Flashy Bull at 4-1, who came in second at the Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream. Flashy Bull will start in post position No. 2.

Those looking to place bets on a longshot will find four horses at 20-1: Hesanoldsalt in position No. 1, Rehoboth in No. 6, Charming Image in No. 9 and California-bred Sam's Ace in No. 11.

The remaining five horses are as follows: Sharp Humor at 5-1, Sunriver at 6-1, Saint Augustus at 12-1, Doc Cheney at 12-1, and High Blues at 10-1.

The winner of last year's race was High Fly, who beat stablemate Noble Causeway. Both horses were entered by legendary trainer Nick Zito.

Zito has two horses in this year's race: Doc Cheney and Hesanoldsalt, who finished seventh in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes two weeks ago.

In January, Hesanoldsalt beat Sunriver in an allowance race at Gulfstream. Sunriver subsequently won an allowance race at Gulfstream earlier this month.

Zito, who has been matching Hesanoldsalt up against strong competition, is pleased with the horse's performance.

"I love a horse that runs with good horses," Zito told the Daily Racing Form. "He ran with Lawyer Ron; he came back and ran with Sunriver; he's run with Bluegrass Cat."

The Florida Derby, also known as the Run for the Orchids, has produced the winners of 50 Triple Crown events since its inaugural running in 1952.

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