Cairo Prince is the favorite to win today’s Florida Derby.
Cairo Prince has been set as the 9-5 favorite for the Grade 1, $1 million race at Gulfstream Park, a significant prep race for the Kentucky Derby. It's no surprise to see the multiple stakes winner trained by Kieran McLaughlin set as the horse to beat.
Watch: Live stream the Florida Derby here
Listen: Live stream audio of the Florida Derby here
PP Horse- Jockey- Trainer- ML
1. Wildcat Red- J. Velazquez- J. Garaffalo 3/1
2. Matador- J. Leparoux- M. Casse 15/1
3. Cairo Prince- L. Saez- K. McLaughlin 9/5
4. Constitution- J. Castellano- T. Pletcher 4/1
5. East Hall- J. Leyva- W. Kaplan 20/1
6. General a Rod- J. Rosario- M. Maker 7/2
7. Allstar- O. Bocachica- M. Vitali 30/1
8. Sport- C. Lanerica- N, Zito 8/1
"He's happy and we're happy with post three," McLaughlin told reporters. "There's a lot of speed in there, so I think we'll be coming from behind."
Cairo Prince has been successful at Gulfstream in the past; he won the grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes back on Jan. 25. Cairo Prince has won three of his four career starts.
Second-choice Wildcat Red has won his last two stakes races and has prevailed in four of six lifetime starts, all at Gulfstream. He comes in at 3-1 for Saturday’s Florida Derby. General a Rod (7-2) beat Wildcat Red back on Jan. 1.
This time, Wildcat Red adds legendary jockey John Velazquez after Louis Saez chose to ride Cairo Prince instead.
The Florida Derby is one of eight stakes races on Saturday's card at Gulfstream, with more than $2 million in purses at stake. Weather could be a factor, with isolated thunderstorms in the forecast for race time. Horse Racing Radio Network tweeted the following quotes from Jose Garoffalo, the Wildcat Red trainer who was asked about the potential wet track.
Garoffalo: Wildcat Red loves wet track. Trained on wet track nearly every day during summer in Florida.
— HRRN (@HRRN) March 29, 2014
Garoffalo: Cairo Prince is a contender but coming off a 2 month layoff and going 1 1/8 is going to be tough for him. — HRRN (@HRRN) March 29, 2014
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