The 72^nd edition of the Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa drew star 3-year-old Forte, last year’s champion 2-year-old male coming off a scintillating win in the at Gulfstream Park in Fountain of Youth Stakes. Thus, it would be no surprise if this influential prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve again produced the winner of the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

The Florida Derby is historically the most important steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby glory as a record 24 3-year-olds prepped in the race and went on to win the run for the roses. In fact, six horses since the turn of the century have won both the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby: Monarchos (2001), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Orb (2013), Nyquist (2016), and Always Dreaming (2017). Other notable horses among the 15 to sweep the two races include Northern Dancer (1964) and Spectacular Bid (1979).

The $1 million, Grade 1 Florida Derby is the featured race on an action-packed 14-race card that features 10 stakes races, including five graded stakes, worth $2.35 million in purses April 1 at Gulfstream Park. It will be televised on CNBC and has a scheduled post time of 6:40 p.m. ET.

Sign up today and bet the 1/ST Racing Tour and the Florida Derby with 1/ST BET, the official app of Gulfstream Park. That way, once you get to know the Florida Derby horses in this Cheat Sheet,  you can stop by 1st.com/bet/cheatsheet and make your bets on Saturday, April 1.

Let’s examine the field for this year’s renewal of the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby.

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1. Jungfrau (20-1 morning-line odds)

Jockey: Paco Lopez

Trainer: Bill Mott

Owner: Juddmonte Farms

Career record: 4 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $57,150

Earnings per start: $14,288

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 87

Kentucky Derby points: 0

Pedigree: Arrogate – South Bank, by Tapit 

Color: Gray or roan

Running style: Stalker/press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: After beginning his career with a pair of fourth-place finishes, Jungfrau earned his first victory via disqualification Dec. 31, 2022, in a 1 1/16-mile race at Gulfstream Park. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott was encouraged enough by that effort from the Juddmonte homebred – who is from a family that has produced 2018 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Expert Eye and Grade 1 winners Sightseek and Tates Creek – that he tested Jungfrau in the Grade 3 Withers Stakes Feb. 11 at Aqueduct in his 3-year-old debut. Jungfrau gained little from the start and we learned next to nothing from the Withers Stakes as winner Hit Show bumped him shortly after the break and Jungfrau was steadied multiple times, essentially losing any chance at the start as he was eased late in the race. The Withers looks like a race you just toss out completely when evaluating Jungfrau; however, it must be noted that he has yet to cross the finish line first in any of his four starts and would need to boost his prior best Equibase Speed Figure about 20 points to be a win candidate in the Florida Derby. He’s an intriguing longshot for impeccable connections if you were a believer before the Withers, but probably for a minor award and not for the top prize. Owner Juddmonte Farms won the Florida Derby in 2003 with Empire Maker. Mott has had several top-three finishes in the Florida Derby, most recently finishing second with Hofburg in 2018.

Bet Jungfrau in the Florida Derby.

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2. West Coast Cowboy (20-1)

Jockey: Sonny Leon

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owner: Gentry Farms (Anthony Gentry)

Career record: 3 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $50,450

Earnings per start: $16,817

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 85

Kentucky Derby points: 6

Pedigree: West Coast – Coco’s Sweetie, by Tenpins 

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: West Coast Cowboy is one of four 3-year-olds entered in Saturday’s race by trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who won last year’s Florida Derby with White Abarrio, and this colt from the first crop of 2017 Travers Stakes winner West Coast profiles as an intriguing longshot. West Coast Cowboy won one of two starts as a 2-year-old before running third at 58.10-1 odds in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park. His dam (mother), Coco’s Sweetie, was a stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles, so this 1 1/8-mile distance should not be an issue. West Coast Cowboy would need to show significant improvement, probably a 20-point jump in Equibase Speed Figures, to have a shot to beat Forte. While upsetting Forte seems unlikely, to be kind, he’s eligible to take a step forward in his second race of the year and fourth start overall and could fill out the exacta or trifecta at a big price. Jockey Sonny Leon won the 2022 Kentucky Derby at 80.80-1 on Rich Strike and rides West Coast Cowboy for the second time in the Florida Derby.

Bet West Coast Cowboy in the Florida Derby.

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3. Shaq Diesel (30-1)

Jockey: Miguel Vasquez

Trainer: Renaldo Richards

Owners: Chester A. Bishop, Anthony Hinkson, Alvin Rampaul, Patrick Biggs, and Donovan Stanford

Career record: 8 starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third

Career earnings: $70,500

Earnings per start: $8,813

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 84

Kentucky Derby points: 0

Pedigree: Khozan – Kleodora, by Tiznow 

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Two of Shaq Diesel’s three wins have come on this main track at Gulfstream Park – he won twice there at seven-eighths of a mile in October 2022 – but he’s been beaten by 7 ½ lengths or more in his three tries against stakes competition. He enters the Florida Derby off a 10^th-place finish in a field of 14 in the Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamarque Crescent City Ford Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds. It would require a massive improvement and a monster race reminiscent of his namesake, Hall of Fame NBA center Shaquille O’Neal, from Shaq Diesel in this spot to be competitive. Given he’s already made eight starts, he would appear to have a bit less upside than some of the more lightly raced longshots in the Florida Derby. On the bright side, he hails from a family that is anchored by his fourth dam (maternal great-great grandmother), 1992 Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (by Secretariat), who produced 1990 Preakness Stakes winner Summer Squall and 1992 Horse of the Year and breed-shaping sire A.P. Indy. So, he’s got that going for him … along with appealing odds and success on this main track, but anything more than filling out the trifecta or superfecta would be a stunning turn of events for Shaq Diesel in the Florida Derby.

Bet Shaq Diesel in the Florida Derby.

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4. Mage (10-1)

Jockey: Luis Saez

Trainer: Gustavo Delgado

Owners: OGMA Investments, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing, and CMNWLTH

Career record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $61,200

Earnings per start: $30,600

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 95

Kentucky Derby points: 10

Pedigree: Good Magic – Puca, by Big Brown

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Mage was an impressive debut winner Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park, leading from start to finish in a 3 ¾-length romp. Trainer Gustavo Delgado was encouraged enough by the race that he tested the colt next in the $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes on the Kentucky Derby trail. While no match for champion Forte March 4 in just his second career start, Mage held his own in a fourth-place finish to both pick up 10 points toward qualifying and earn himself another shot here in the Florida Derby. He improved seven points to a 95 Equibase Speed Figure in the Fountain of Youth and with another step forward in his third race, this lightly raced colt could vie for second and perhaps punch his ticket to the first jewel of the Triple Crown May 6 at Churchill Downs. If for some reason, Forte does not run his race, Mage has as good a shot as any of these runners to capitalize. From the first crop of 2017 champion 2-year-old male Good Magic, Mage is out of the Big Brown mare Puca, a stakes winner around two turns and Grade 2-placed at 1 1/8 miles, so distance should not be an issue. Trainer Gustavo Delgado finished second in the 2016 Florida Derby with Majesto and second in 2019 with Bodexpress; jockey Luis Saez won the 2019 Florida Derby on Maximum Security.

Bet Mage in the Florida Derby.

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5. Mr. Peeks (30-1)

Jockey: Edwin Gonzalez

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owner: C2 Racing Stable

Career record: 2 starts – 0 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $18,900

Earnings per start: $9,450

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 90

Kentucky Derby points: 0

Pedigree: California Chrome – Ms. Bubbette, by Tiz Wonderful

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Pacesetter

Notable achievements and interesting facts: It would be difficult to imagine Mr. Peeks earning his first career victory in a key Grade 1 Kentucky Derby prep race like the Florida Derby after running fourth in February and second in March in three-quarter-mile sprints at Gulfstream Park. Expect Mr. Peeks to be a massive longshot in this race as he would need to improve his speed figure by about 15 points while stretching out in distance from sprinting to 1 1/8 miles in his first start against stakes competition. The best-case scenario for Mr. Peeks would probably be setting an uncontested pace and holding on late to fill out the trifecta or superfecta at huge odds. In a 12-horse field with several others who prefer to be on or near the lead, that seems like a remote possibility at best. Mr. Peeks makes his first start for new trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and new owner C2 Racing Stable, who teamed last year to win the Florida Derby with White Abarrio.

Bet Mr. Peeks in the Florida Derby.

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6. Nautical Star (30-1)

Jockey: Leonel Reyes

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owners: C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms

Career record: 2 starts – 1 win – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $58,500

Earnings per start: $29,250

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 93

Kentucky Derby points: 0

Pedigree: Dixie Chatter – Kiss Me Chocolate, by Evansville Slew

Color: Dark bay or brown

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Lightly raced Nautical Star will test rough and deep waters in the Florida Derby as he makes his stakes debut in a Grade 1 Kentucky Derby prep having never competed in a race longer than three-quarters of a mile. He comes out of an off-the-pace victory at that six-furlong distance Feb. 18 at Oaklawn Park after the Oklahoma-bred finished fourth in his career debut in January at Oaklawn. Stretching out to 1 1/8 miles in the Florida Derby could allow Nautical Star to race closer to the pace than he has in sprints, but this Dixie Chatter colt has his work cut out for him here facing the likes of Forte in one of the most important Derby prep races. He figures to vie for the longest odds in the race, so anyone who saw something in his maiden win that made them a believer in this colt would be handsomely rewarded if he can outrun his odds. Like Mr. Peeks above, Nautical Star makes his first start for new connections in the Florida Derby – trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. and the partnership of C2 Racing Stable LLC and Stefania Farms. Joseph and C2 Racing Stable won the Florida Derby last year with White Abarrio.

Bet Nautical Star in the Florida Derby.

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7. Il Miracolo (30-1)

Jockey: Jesus Rios

Trainer: Antonio Sano

Owner: Alexandres (Eduardo Soto)

Career record: 8 starts – 1 win – 3 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $66,125

Earnings per start: $8,266

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 81

Kentucky Derby points: 2

Pedigree: Gun Runner - Tapit's World, by Tapit

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Closer

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Il Miracolo is tied for the most race experience in the Florida Derby (along with Shaq Diesel) with eight career starts and he’s bred to handle this 1 1/8-mile distance, but he has been unplaced in four races since a front-running maiden win Nov. 11, 2022, going a mile at Gulfstream Park. That was really the only time in his career that he’s shown any early speed as he’s dropped back well off the pace in four subsequent races against stakes company and finished fifth or worse against the more challenging competition. He was beaten by 10 lengths in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes and was 19 ¼ lengths behind winner Forte in the Fountain of Youth. Il Miracolo would have to live up to his name, which translates to The Miracle, to win the Florida Derby as he’d probably need to improve his Equibase Speed Figure by about 25 points to even have a chance turn the tables on Forte. With significant improvement, perhaps he could rally from off the pace for a minor award if the pace is fast in the early stages. Trainer Antonio Sano finished third in the 2017 Florida Derby with Gunnevera.

Bet Il Miracolo in the Florida Derby.

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8. Mr. Ripple (30-1)

Jockey: Edgard Zayas

Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.

Owner: Legacy Racing

Career record: 3 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third

Career earnings: $47,760

Earnings per start: $15,920

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 96

Kentucky Derby points: 0

Pedigree: Dialed in – Palace Pier, by Out of Place

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Mr. Ripple made waves with an eye-catching debut Oct. 15, 2022, at Gulfstream Park, where he posted a front-running, 9 ¼-length romp under Edgard Zayas. While he has not returned to the winner’s circle in two subsequent starts, Mr. Ripple has certainly not disgraced himself this year. He finished third behind fellow Florida Derby entrant Cyclone Mischief and eventual Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Litigate Jan. 8 in his 3-year-old bow and then led in the stretch before fading to finish second going this 1 1/8-mile distance at Gulfstream on March 2. With Equibase Speed Figures ranging from 91 to 96 and having never finished worse than third, Mr. Ripple profiles as a potentially live longshot to spice up the exotics for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who has four 3-year-olds entered in this race and won it a year ago with White Abarrio.

Bet Mr. Ripple in the Florida Derby.

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9. Cyclone Mischief (8-1)

Jockey: Javier Castellano

Trainer: Dale Romans

Owners: Albaugh Family Stables and Castleton Lyons

Career record: 6 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $153,350

Earnings per start: $84,100

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 101

Kentucky Derby points: 15

Pedigree: Into Mischief – Areyoucominghere, by Bernardini

Color: Bay

Running style: Press the pace

Notable achievements and interesting facts: At his best, Cyclone Mischief is absolutely capable of the type of big effort that it would take to be in the hunt for a Florida Derby victory in deep stretch. He has been a bit inconsistent, however, as he finished seventh in both the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes before an encouraging third most recently in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. While no match for winner Forte that day – to be fair, nobody was – Cyclone Mischief set a solid pace in the race and finished 1 ¼ lengths behind runner-up Rocket Can, winner of the Holy Bull. There does not appear to be an abundance of speed entered in Saturday’s race but there are 12 runners and quite a few of them prefer to race in the first flight. That could make things a bit more challenging for a pacesetter/press-the-pace type like Cyclone Mischief. It’s tough to envision him improving enough to defeat champion Forte in the Florida Derby, but Cyclone Mischief could be prominent early and hold on to fill out the exacta or trifecta with an incremental step forward. Trainer Dale Romans finished second in this race in 2011 with Shackleford; jockey Javier Castellano won the 2014 edition of the Florida Derby aboard Constitution.

Bet Cyclone Mischief in the Florida Derby.

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10. Fort Bragg (5-1)

Jockey: Joel Rosario

Trainer: Tim Yakteen

Owners: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan

Career record: 5 starts – 1 win – 1 second – 2 thirds

Career earnings: $90,400

Earnings per start: $18,080

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 100

Kentucky Derby points: 5

Pedigree: Tapit – March X Press, by Shanghai Bobby

Color: Bay

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: It’s definitely interesting that the connections of Fort Bragg rerouted him from a planned start in the March 26 Sunland Park Derby to the Florida Derby, typically a much more difficult race but one that this year looks a little more top-heavy thanks to the presence of champion Forte. Perhaps they thought Fort Bragg had a better shot to finish second in the Florida Derby, worth 40 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, than to win the Sunland Derby (50 points) as a path toward punching his ticket to the first jewel of the Triple Crown. Since earning his first official win – he finished first once previously but was disqualified for interference – Fort Bragg has finished third behind Practical Move in the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity and fifth behind that same rival in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes. Practical Move looks like an elite 3-year-old, but Fort Bragg was beaten by more than 5 ½ lengths in both races, so it’s fair to be skeptical about his chances here and filling out the trifecta might be the ceiling for him in the Florida Derby. Starlight Racing and Sol Kumin (of Madaket Stables) both were part owners of 2018 Florida Derby winner Audible. Eclipse Award-winning jockey Joel Rosario has never won the Florida Derby; his best finish was a third aboard General a Rod in 2014.

Bet Fort Bragg in the Florida Derby.

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11. Forte (4-5)

Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owners: Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable

Career record: 6 starts – 5 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $1,833,230

Earnings per start: $305,538

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 106

Kentucky Derby points: 90

Pedigree: Violence – Queen Caroline, by Blame

Color: Dark bay or Brown

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: The reigning champion 2-year-old male returned from a four-month layoff with a dazzling 3-year-old debut when winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes by 4 ½ lengths as the 1-2 favorite March 4 at Gulfstream Park. The Violence colt has won four straight races and five of his six starts overall, and he’s a very strong favorite right now for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve as well as the leader by qualifying points. The Florida Derby came up a little weaker than normal given his imposing presence among the entrants, and Forte figures to be extremely tough to beat at 1 1/8 miles after posting a career-best 106 Equibase Speed Figure in the Fountain of Youth. He’s a three-time Grade 1 winner for top connections and the fastest horse on paper, although the poor post-position draw did him no favors. There might still be questions about his ability to deliver a dominant effort at 1 ¼ miles on May 6, but he only needs to extend an extra sixteenth of a mile in the Florida Derby after three straight wins at 1 1/16 miles. Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Florida Derby six times with Scat Daddy (2007), Constitution (2014), Materiality (2015), Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming (2017), Audible (2018), and Known Agenda (2021). Jockey Irad Ortiz’s lone win in the Florida Derby came for Pletcher in 2021 aboard Known Agenda, who was owned by Forte’s co-owner St. Elias Stable. Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable also was a part-owner of Always Dreaming.

Bet Forte in the Florida Derby.

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12. Dubyuhnell (6-1)

Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Trainer: Danny Gargan

Owners: West Paces Racing and Stonestreet Stables

Career record: 4 starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds

Career earnings: $196,050

Earnings per start: $49,013

Top Equibase Speed Figure: 101

Kentucky Derby points: 10

Pedigree: Good Magic – Wild Gams, by Forest Wildcat

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Stalker

Notable achievements and interesting facts: Dubyuhnell, named for co-owner West Paces Racing’s connection to Washington and Lee University, made a fantastic impression in his stakes debut when winning the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes on a sloppy track Dec. 3, 2022, at Aqueduct. That was his second straight win and earned the Good Magic colt a career-best 101 Equibase Speed Figure. Dubyuhnell made his 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs and he lost the race at the start when he was steadied entering the first turn, bumped shortly thereafter, and shuffled back to 10^th. Trainer Danny Gargan said after the race that it was essentially over by the first turn for his colt, who had enjoyed success pressing/stalking the pace but was taken completely out of his game and finished 19 lengths behind winner Litigate. If you are willing to forgive the Sam F. Davis, Dubyuhnell is the most accomplished of the challengers to Forte in the Florida Derby and probably has the best shot to pull the upset or finish second. However, he drew the outside post in a 12-horse field and it should be noted that both of Dubyuhnell’s wins came on sloppy tracks and he has yet to win on a dry/fast surface. Jockey Jose Ortiz finished second in the Florida Derby in 2015 on Upstart and in 2018 on Hofburg.

Bet Dubyuhnell in the Florida Derby.

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