Gulfstream gives one last hurrah for the 3-year-olds in 2024 when the $140,000 Tropical Park Oaks and $140,000 Tropical Park Derby are co-featured. For much of its history the Tropical Park Derby was a New Year’s Day kickoff for the sophomore season, but has rounded out the schedule over the past decade. The race has been won by the likes of Mecke, Kitten’s Joy and eventual 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro.
Let’s meet the contenders for the 1-1/16 miles Tropical Park Derby (Race 11):
#1-LIVE HIGH LIVE LOW: Runner-up in Aqueduct’s Carle Place Stakes has put up back-to-back fast turf-sprint placings in recent outings. George Weaver’s Coal Front colt has 3 wins up to a mile on turf and seeks his longest score.
#2-FULL NELSON: Jose D’Angelo trainee won 3 straight this spring, including the Columbia Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. But the former $35,000 maiden claim has dropped his last 4 decisions, beating just 1 rival in each of his last pair of outings.
#3-FREEDOM PRINCIPLE: Sixth at 25-1 in Gulfstream’s Showing Up Stakes last month against several Tropical Park Derby return rivals. Looks to snap a 5-race losing streak since winning the local English Channel at 21-1 in May for Jose Garoffalo.
#4-PALM TREE: Most lightly raced member of the field has 6 starts in tow, winning only his maiden at Kentucky Downs 15 months ago. Owner Godolphin has been on a major role in recent weeks, winning the Remsen, Kentucky Jockey Club, Golden Rod, Falls City and Wait a While Stakes all since November 28. Third, beaten a neck, in the Pulpit Stakes over this course last December.
#5-BRAWN: Freshened since September, this Florida-bred seeks his first stakes win after 5 unsuccessful bids at the class level. Runner-up by a neck in the local Bear’s Den over a mile on turf in August. Trainer Ruben Sierra off to a quick start at the Championship Meet with 2 wins among his first 5 runners, including 35-1 Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl upsetter My Denysse.
#6-FIDELIGHTCAYUT: Since opening his career 3-for-5, he’s nibbled the top spots in 5 stakes. Leofric colt was beaten just a head in the Jersey Derby at Monmouth and a neck in the Rick Violette Stakes vs. fellow New York-breds at Saratoga. Juan Avila trainee has returned to his Tampa Bay Downs base and will be making his first Gulfstream appearance.
#7-IN A JAM: Gulfstream horse-for-course is 5: 2-3-0 locally, including a win in the Not Surprising Stakes and runner-ups in the Englash Channel and Showing Up, the latter most recently Nov. 2. First of 2 Mark Casse trainees in the field for a barn that won this race in 2014 and 2022. Jockey Edwin Gonzalez won last year’s Tropical Park Derby aboard Souper Blessing.
#8-NINJA STAR: Consistent summer/fall at Presque Isle Downs on the synthetic for Kevin Rice, this gelding was third in the Sophomore Turf Stakes on grass at Tampa Bay Downs this spring. Solid 9-for-17 career mark finishing in the exacta on multiple surfaces. Second and fourth in his only Gulfstream turf bids to date, both in optional claiming/allowance company.
#9-SILENT HEART: Stretched out to 1-1/16 miles for the first time in winning Gulfstream’s Showing Up Stakes last month with authority despite a wide draw. Brian Lynch trained the 2015 Tropical Park Derby winner and will have one of the favorites to add another. Heart to Heart colt was third by a neck in the Colonel Liam locally this spring behind return rival Cugino. Lynch barn swept a pair of Tampa Bay Downs stakes, the Sandpiper and Inaugural, last Saturday and is 16: 6-2-4 since November 14, according to Betmix stats.
#10-CUGINO: Multiple Grade 3 stakes-placed performer is 6-for-8 in the exacta lifetime, including runner-ups in both Gulfstream grass outings. Beaten favorite by a neck in March’s Colonel Liam Stakes over this course and distance. Most recently second in the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Aqueduct and comes into this race second-off-the-layoff for 2018 Tropical Park Derby-winning trainer Shug McGaughey. Irad Ortiz Jr. picks up the mount for the first time on the projected favorite.
#11-CAN GROUP: Returns from a June layoff as the second of 2 Mark Casse trainees in the field for a barn that won this race in 2014 and 2022. Grade 2 Bourbon winner and fourth-place finisher in last year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but has been off the board in all 4 starts this season. First trip over the Gulfstream lawn and first time with John Velazquez aboard on Saturday.
#12-INVEIGLED: Trainer Jane Cibelli puts this Enticed gelding on the turf for the first time. Sidelined since July, he posted top-4 finishes in Gulfstream’s Mucho Macho Man and Holy Bull, as well as Laurel’s Private Terms and Federico Tesio earlier in his sophomore season. Joe Bravo picks up the mount for the first time. Sire Enticed has had success on the Gulfstream lawn with limited starters, posting an 11: 4-1-0 record (3 wins by Simply Striking), according to Betmix.
AE #13-ECHO LANE: Recent Churchill turf allowance winner for Rohan Crichton was fourth this summer in the Grade 3 Virginia Derby. He’s won 2 of 3 on the Gulfstream lawn and has been remarkable consistent with 9 superfecta finishes in his last 10 starts. Tough draw if he gets in from the also-eligible list, however.
AE #14-IL SICILIANO: Eighth start maiden breaker most recently is cross-entered Sunday in a Tapeta allowance where the Antonio Sano trainee better fits.
.svg){kind=logo}
