Tonights florida derby

Quality Road: out to squash Dunkirk's Kentucky Derby dreams in Florida

Gulfstream Park: Florida Derby (Grade 1) 1m1f, dirt, 3yo

THE Florida Derby has always been an important trial for the Kentucky Derby but this year's renewal is especially crucial for one potential superstar.

The unbeaten Dunkirk is a $3.7million yearling purchase owned by the familiar Coolmore partnership of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier - and he must score at Gulfstream Park to ensure a starting berth at Churchill Downs on May 2.

Despite his inexperience, this immesnsely promising grey son of Unbridled's Song is ante-post favourite for Kentucky with British bookmakers, who make him as short as 8-1.

However, he faces at least one major rival in Florida in the shape of leadingKentucky hope Quality Road, easy winner of the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes last time out from Saturday's rival Theregoesjojo, who has been spoken of as a possible for the Epsom Derby.

Dunkirk has won only in minor company before now stepping right up to the top level for the first of four Grade 1 Kentucky Derby preps over the next fortnight.

It is no forlorn assignment, though. Big Brown made a similar jump last year in the same race before winning in Kentucky- and British bookmakers, a number of whom have priced up the race, find it hard to split Dunkirk and Quality Road.

With only 19 places available in the Kentucky Derby field, places in America's signature race are determined on the basis of graded-stakes earnings. As yet, Dunkirk has none - so he must win to ensure he gets in the gate at Churchill Downs.

To aid the colt's cause, trainer Todd Pletcher will enlist the assistance of a pacemaker in stablemate Europe,well beaten in his only start, over 5f.

Much has been made over the use of what Americans call a ‘rabbit', in the field to ensure Quality Road doesn't get a soft lead.

"We're more or less in a must-win situation to feel we're comfortably in the Derby," said Pletcher.

"We have to put ourselves in the best possible situation we can to accomplish that goal.

"If Dunkirk had enough graded earnings that we didn't feel like we had to win in order to go on to the next step, we might have left things alone."

Dunkirk has been visually spectacular in his two starts, breaking his duck over 7f by nearly six lengths at Gulfstream Park on Januray 24, then coming back to win an allowance race there over the Florida Derby distance on February 19 by almost five lengths.

"I couldn't be more pleased with everything the horse has done every step of the way to this point," Pletcher added.

"That being said, this is a big step up in class and I think Quality Road is a very good horse.

"I have a lot of respect for him and I just didn't want to face a scenario he was allowed to make the lead and set comfortable fractions. He's going to be tough enough to beat under the best of situations.

"I feel like Dunkirk is a very good horse, but he has his work cut out for him in this race. He needs everything to come to hand on Saturday."

Garrett Gomez has the mount on Dunkirk.

A trace of irony surrounds the Jimmy Jerkens-trained Quality Road, as he is ridden by Pletcher's first-call jockey John Velazquez, who turned down the chance to ride star filly Indian Blessing in Dubai to stay at home for this.

Quality Road, generally a 12-1 chance for Kentucky, has won two of his three starts to date - but he was beaten by Saturday's Theregoesjojo (Ken McPeek/Kent Desormeaux) on his seasonal debut on January10.

Next time, though, he reversed the form in no uncertain fashion, putting more than four lengths into Theregoesjojo.

Now he goes around two turns for the first time. "That's always a concern," said Jerkens.

"But he rates kindly and does whatever Johnny asks so I think he'll handle the added distance.

"I also like the fact that he hasn't gotten rattled despite having some awfully fast works between races.

"So far his mind is perfect and I think he's coming into this race just like he came into the Fountain of Youth. He's doing about as good as you could hope."

Ken McPeek, trainer of Theregoesjojo, isn't conceding defeat. "Everyone seems to think the Florida Derby is a two-horse race," he said.

"But everything is falling in place well for our colt and I'm going our there confident we can beat both Dunkirk and Quality Road on Saturday."

Florida Derby betting:

Coral: 7-4 Dunkirk, 11-8 Quality Road, 9-2 Theregoesjojo, 8-1 Danger To Society, 25-1 Toby The Coal Man, 40-1 Sincero, 50-1 Casey's On Call, Stately Character, Europe

Blue Square: 6-4 Dunkirk, 7-4 Quality Road, 11-2 Theregoesjojo, 8-1 Danger To Society, 14-1 Toby The Coal Man, 25-1 Casey's On Call, 33-1 Sincero, Stately Character, 66-1 Europe

QUALITY ROAD landed the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on Saturday night, and in doing so severely dented the hopes of the Coolmore-bred Dunkirk making the cut for the Kentucky Derby.

The three-year-old, who cost $3,700,000 as a yearling, was having his third start for trainer Todd Pletcher, and was sent off the even money favourite.

However, despite appearing to hold every chance approaching the final furlong, Dunkirk was unable to pass Quality Road who secured a one and three quarter length victory in a new course record time of 1.47.72.

Winning jockey John Velasquez said: "I was just biding my time. He relaxed. I didn't have to wrestle him going into the backside. He [Dunkirk] got close to me, but never passed me."

Pletcher was quick to complain about the track at Gulfstream Park, saying to ESPN after the race: "Had we known the track was the way it was, we would have run in New York (in the Wood Memorial)."

While Quality Road's entry in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1 is assured, Dunkirk's possible participation is now in jeopardy.

The field for the Kentucky Derby is determined by graded stakes earnings if more than 20 three-year-olds are entered, and Dunkirk had no previous graded earnings before the race, leaving him potentially short of the entry requirements.


Saeed Bin Suroor: Derby options


Desert Party, trained by Godolphin and sent off the 2-5 favourite for the Group 2 UAE Derby on Saturday at Nad Al Sheba, had to settle for second place behind stablemate Regal Ransom.

Both could also run in the Kentucky Derby, but trainer Saeed Bin Surror was non-committal, he said: "I always said this horse [Regal Ransom] could be a surprise horse. I am happy with that, we'll see [in terms of the Kentucky Derby]."


kentucky derby prices www.racingpost.com/horses/popup_pricebox...pricebox_uid=2225702

I love this time of year as the northern hemisphere comes alive!

Hibernia what a superb looker that Quality Road, connections must be excited.