Florida Derby to Be Run Without Spectators; Tiz the Law and Ete Indien Head 12-Horse Field

Florida Derby to Be Run Without Spectators; Tiz the Law and Ete Indien Head 12-Horse Field

HRFLA Staff Report

Saturday, March 28, 2020--Today is Florida Derby day at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

We will have coverage throughout the day that  will be known as the "coronavirus Florida Derby" and the "Florida Derby when nobody could come."

Gulfstream will hold the races with no spectators.  It has been doing that since March 13, as part of its effort to comply with federal and state guidances on limiting the size of public gatherings during the coronavirus (CIVD-19) pandemic.

First post is 11:30 a.m. for Saturday's 14-race card.  Ten of the races are stakes.

The Florida Derby (Grade 1) is the 14th race with scheduled post at 6:36 p.m.

It is  1 1/8 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds and is a final round points qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby (Grade 1) which has been rescheduled from May 2 to Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisvile, Ky.

The Florida Derby has a full field of twelve horses.

Tiz the Law and Ete Indien are the probable favorites.

Tiz the Law beat Ete Indien by three lengths in the 1 1/16 mile Holy Bull (Grade 3) at Gulfstream on Feb. 1.

Ete Indien led at every call and won the 1 1/16  mile Fountain of Youth (Grade  2) at Gulfstream on Feb . 29.

Regular jockey Manuel Franco will ride Tiz the Law for trainer Barclay Tagg.   Regular jockey Florent Geroux will ride Ete Indien for trainer Patrick Biancone.

This link
https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RaceCardIndexGP032820USA-EQB.html  to the Equibase Web site has the entries for Gulfstream's Saturday card.  It has links to handicapping material--some free and some at cost.