Simplification

Simplification earned his first victory on Oct. 23, 2021, in a six-furlong maiden special weight race for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park. He crushed the competition that day, drawing off in the stretch to win by sixteen lengths.

After a third-place finish in allowance optional claiming competition, Simplification made his stakes debut in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream on New Year's Day 2022. Under new jockey Javier Castellano, he set the early pace and drew away to win by four lengths.

Next out, Simplification competed in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes on Feb. 5, 2022. He stumbled badly at the start and was unable to get to his usual position on the front end. He was then hung wide most of the way. Despite the traffic trouble, he closed for second and earned four points on the road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. 

Simplification rebounded with a sharp 3 1/2-length win in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on Mar. 5. He made a strong six-wide move on the final turn and drew off from there. He earned 50 more Derby qualifying points with that effort.

Simplification returned in a competitive edition of the Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa on April 2 and took the lead at the top of the stretch after stalking the pace. He battled gamely to the finish but tired late and finished third behind White Abarrio and Charge It. The colt earned 20 more qualifying points to the Kentucky Derby.

Simplification went off at 35-1 in the May 7 Derby. He closed well off a very fast pace and finished fourth, beaten 3 1/2 lengths. He returned in the Preakness Stakes and finished sixth.

The rest of Simplification's 3-year-old campaign consisted of a third-place finish in the Grade 3 West Virginia Derby, a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby, and a seventh-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Simplification's sire (father) is Not This Time, a graded stakes winner who has established himself as a prominent young sire.