# Florida Derby

The Florida Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old horses held annually at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Since 2005, it has been run five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, which is held on the first Saturday in May. Thus the Florida Derby is currently run either at the end of March or the beginning of April. Added to the racing schedule in 1952, the Grade I race is run at 1+1⁄8 miles on the dirt. The purse was increased to $1 million in 2011 but was reduced to $750,000 for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purse was once again increased to $1 million in 2022.

## History

The Florida Derby was first run in 1952. It has long been a prestigious prep race for the Kentucky Derby and since 2013 has been part of the official Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The race was originally run in early to mid-March and Kentucky Derby hopefuls would then run in another major prep race in April. In 2005, Gulfstream Park shifted its scheduling to run the race five weeks before the Kentucky Derby. This was originally believed to be a liability, as the preferred spacing of races is typically three to four weeks. When Barbaro won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, the five-week spacing began to be viewed as a potentially positive feature, allowing a horse to come into the Kentucky Derby well rested.
In 1977, a large field resulted in the race being run in two divisions.
Between 1926 and 1937, the Flamingo Stakes was known as the Florida Derby.

## Triple Crown Classic Winners

In total, 21 winners of the Florida Derby have gone on to win one or more Triple Crown Classics (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes).
Kentucky Derby Winners: Needles (1956), Tim Tam (1958), Carry Back (1961), Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Swale (1984), Unbridled (1990), Thunder Gulch (1995), Monarchos (2001), Barbaro (2006), Big Brown (2008), Orb (2013), Nyquist (2016), and Always Dreaming (2017).
* In 1968, Florida Derby winner Forward Pass was promoted to first place in the Kentucky Derby after the original winner, Dancer's Image, was disqualified due to a medication violation.
* In 2019, Florida Derby winner Maximum Security crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, but was disqualified due to interference.
Preakness Stakes Winners: Nashua (1955), Tim Tam (1958), Bally Ache (1960), Carry Back (1961), Candy Spots (1963), Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Snow Chief (1986), and Big Brown (2008).
Belmont Stakes Winners: Nashua (1955), Needles (1956), Swale (1984), Thunder Gulch (1995), Empire Maker (2003), and Tiz the Law (2020).

## Records

Speed Record:
* 1:46.80 – Gen. Duke (1957), equaled the world record for 1+1⁄8 miles at the time.
Most wins by an owner:
* 5 – Calumet Farm (1957, 1958, 1968, 1971, 1978)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 6 – John R. Velazquez (2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 8 – Todd A. Pletcher (2007, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Largest margin of victory:
* 13+1⁄2 lengths – Fierceness (2024)
Shortest priced winners:
* $2.10 (1/20 on) – Honest Pleasure (1976), Spectacular Bid (1979)
Longest priced winner:
* $183.60 (~91/1) – Williamstown Kid (1966)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse | Gr. |
| 2024 | Fierceness | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable | 1:48.22 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2023 | Forte | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | Repole Stable & St. Elias Stable | 1:49.37 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2022 | White Abarrio | Tyler Gaffalione | Saffie A. Joseph Jr. | C2 Racing Stable & La Milagrosa Stable | 1:50.64 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2021 | Known Agenda | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Todd A. Pletcher | St. Elias Stable | 1:49.45 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 2020 | Tiz the Law | Manny Franco | Barclay Tagg | Sackatoga Stable | 1:50.00 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 2019 | Maximum Security | Luis Saez | Jason Servis | Mary & Gary West | 1:48.86 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2018 | Audible | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing & WinStar Farm | 1:49.48 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2017 | Always Dreaming | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing Stable, Siena Farm, West Point Thoroughbreds, MeB Racing & St. Elias Stable | 1:47.47 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2016 | Nyquist | Mario Gutierrez | Doug O'Neill | Reddam Racing | 1:49.11 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2015 | Materiality | John R. Velazquez | Todd A. Pletcher | Alto Racing | 1:52.30 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2014 | Constitution | Javier Castellano | Todd A. Pletcher | Winstar Farm | 1:49.17 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2013 | Orb | John Velazquez | Claude. R. McGaughey III | Stuart S. Janney III & Phipps Stable | 1:50.87 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2012 | Take Charge Indy | Calvin Borel | Patrick B. Byrne | Chuck & Maribeth Sandford | 1:48.79 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2011 | Dialed In | Julien Leparoux | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1:50.74 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2010 | Ice Box | Jose Lezcano | Nick Zito | Robert V. LaPenta | 1:49.19 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 2009 | Quality Road | John Velazquez | James A. Jerkens | Edward P. Evans | 1:47.72 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 2008 | Big Brown | Kent Desormeaux | Richard E. Dutrow Jr. | IEAH Stables & Paul Pompa Jr. | 1:48.16 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2007 | Scat Daddy | Edgar Prado | Todd A. Pletcher | James Scatuorchio & Michael Tabor | 1:49.00 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2006 | Barbaro | Edgar Prado | Michael Matz | Lael Stables | 1:49.01 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2005 | High Fly | Jerry Bailey | Nick Zito | Live Oak Plantation | 1:49.43 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2004 | Friends Lake | Richard Migliore | John C. Kimmel | Chester & Mary Broman | 1:51.38 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2003 | Empire Maker | Jerry Bailey | Robert Frankel | Juddmonte Farms | 1:49.05 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2002 | Harlan's Holiday | Edgar Prado | Kenneth McPeek | Starlight Stable (Jack & Laurie Wolf) | 1:48.80 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2001 | Monarchos | Jorge Chavez | John T. Ward Jr. | John C. Oxley | 1:49.95 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 2000 | Hal's Hope | Roger Velez | Harold J. Rose | Rose Family Stable | 1:51.49 | $1,000,000 | G1 |
| 1999 | Vicar | Shane Sellers | Carl Nafzger | James B. Tafel | 1:50.83 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 1998 | Cape Town | Shane Sellers | D. Wayne Lukas | Overbrook Farm | 1:49.21 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 1997 | Captain Bodgit | Alex Solis | Gary Capuano | Team Valor | 1:50.60 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 1996 | Unbridled's Song | Mike Smith | James T. Ryerson | Paraneck Stable | 1:47.85 | $750,000 | G1 |
| 1995 | Thunder Gulch | Mike Smith | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 1:49.70 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1994 | Holy Bull | Mike Smith | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Warren A. Croll Jr. | 1:47.66 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1993 | Bull Inthe Heather | Wigberto Ramos | Howard M. Tesher | Arthur Klein | 1:51.38 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1992 | Technology | Jerry Bailey | Hubert Hine | Scott C. Savin | 1:50.72 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1991 | Fly So Free | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Tommy Valando | 1:50.44 | $500,000 | I |
| 1990 | Unbridled | Pat Day | Carl Nafzger | Genter Stable | 1:52.00 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1989 | Mercedes Won | Earlie Fires | Arnold Fink | Christopher Spencer | 1:49.60 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1988 | Brian's Time | Randy Romero | John M. Veitch | James W. Phillips | 1:49.80 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1987 | Cryptoclearance | José A. Santos | Scotty Schulhofer | Phil Teinowitz | 1:49.60 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1986 | Snow Chief | Alex Solis | Melvin F. Stute | Carl Grinstead & Ben Rochelle | 1:51.80 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1985 | Proud Truth | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Darby Dan Farm | 1:50.00 | $500,000 | G1 |
| 1984 | Swale | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1:47.60 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1983 | Croeso | Frank Olivares | Stephen A. DiMauro | Cardiff Stud Farm, Jerry Fowler & Roy Fowler | 1:49.80 | $300,000 | G1 |
| 1982 | Timely Writer | Jeffrey Fell | Dominic Imprescia | Peter Martin & Francis Martin | 1:49.60 | $250,000 | G1 |
| 1981 | Lord Avie | Chris McCarron | Daniel Perlsweig | David Simon | 1:50.40 | $250,000 | G1 |
| 1980 | Plugged Nickle | Buck Thornburg | Thomas J. Kelly | John M. Schiff | 1:50.20 | $250,000 | G1 |
| 1979 | Spectacular Bid | Ronnie Franklin | Bud Delp | Hawksworth Farm (Harry & Teresa Meyerhoff) | 1:48.80 | $200,000 | G1 |
| 1978 | Alydar | Jorge Velásquez | John M. Veitch | Calumet Farm | 1:47.00 | $200,000 | G1 |
| 1977 Div 2 | Ruthie's Native | Craig Perret | Eugene Jacobs | Ruth A. Perlmutter | 1:50.20 | $125,000 | G1 |
| 1977 Div 1 | Coined Silver | Buck Thornburg | George T. Poole III | Cornelius V. Whitney | 1:48.80 | $125,000 | G1 |
| 1976 | Honest Pleasure | Braulio Baeza | LeRoy Jolley | Bertram R. Firestone | 1:47.80 | $125,000 | G1 |
| 1975 | Prince Thou Art | Braulio Baeza | Lou Rondinello | Darby Dan Farm | 1:50.40 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 1974 | Judger | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Woody Stephens | Claiborne Farm | 1:49.00 | $150,000 | G1 |
| 1973 | Royal and Regal | Walter Blum | Warren A. Croll Jr. | Aisco Stable | 1:47.40 | $130,000 | |
| 1972 | Upper Case | Ron Turcotte | Lucien Laurin | Meadow Stable | 1:50.00 | $130,000 | |
| 1971 | Eastern Fleet | Eddie Maple | Reggie Cornell | Calumet Farm | 1:47.40 | $125,000 | |
| 1970 | My Dad George | Ray Broussard | Frank J. McManus | Raymond M. Curtis | 1:50.80 | $125,000 | |
| 1969 | Top Knight | Manuel Ycaza | Raymond F. Metcalf | Steven B. Wilson | 1:48.40 | | |
| 1968 | Forward Pass | Don Brumfield | Henry Forrest | Calumet Farm | 1:49.00 | | |
| 1967 | In Reality | Earlie Fires | Melvin Calvert | Frances A. Genter | 1:50.20 | | |
| 1966 | Williamston Kid | Robert Stevenson | James Bartlett | Paul F. Ternes & James Bartlett | 1:50.60 | | |
| 1965 | Native Charger | John L. Rotz | Raymond F. Metcalf | Warner Stable | 1:51.20 | | |
| 1964 | Northern Dancer | Bill Shoemaker | Horatio Luro | Windfields Farm | 1:50.80 | | |
| 1963 | Candy Spots | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 1:50.60 | | |
| 1962 | Ridan | Manuel Ycaza | LeRoy Jolley | Mrs. Moody Jolley, Ernest Woods, John L. Greer | 1:50.40 | | |
| 1961 | Carry Back | Johnny Sellers | Jack A. Price | Katherine Price | 1:48.80 | | |
| 1960 | Bally Ache | Bobby Ussery | Jimmy Pitt | Edgehill Farm (Leonard D. & Morris Fruchtman) | 1:47.60 | | |
| 1959 | Easy Spur | Bill Hartack | Paul L. Kelley | Spring Hill Farm | 1:47.20 | | |
| 1958 | Tim Tam | Bill Hartack | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:49.20 | | |
| 1957 | Gen. Duke | Bill Hartack | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 1:46.80 | | |
| 1956 | Needles | David Erb | Hugh L. Fontaine | D & H Stable (Jack Dudley & Bonnie Heath) | 1:48.60 | | |
| 1955 | Nashua | Eddie Arcaro | Jim Fitzsimmons | Belair Stud | 1:53.20 | | |
| 1954 | Correlation | Bill Shoemaker | Noble Threewitt | Robert S. Lytle | 1:55.20 | | |
| 1953 | Money Broker | Alfred Popara | Vester R. Wright | G. & G. Stable (T. Alie Grissom & Edward Grosfield) | 1:53.80 | | |
| 1952 | Sky Ship | Ronnie Nash | Preston M. Burch | Brookmeade Stable | 1:50.80 | |
* ↑ Lil's Lad finished 1st but was disqualified to 2nd
* ↑ Abe's First finished 1st but was disqualified to 4th