Always Dreaming Wins Florida Derby

Always Dreaming swept into the lead coming out of the turn and  won the Florida Derby (Grade 1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday.
State of Honor finished second, and the favorite Gunnevera came in third.
1t was the  stakes debut for Always Dreaming, who was ridden byJohn Velazquez and is trained by Todd Pletcher.
--Jim Freer


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State o Honor Our Choice in Florida DerbyHH

Here is our prediction for the  Florida Derby 

First  -- State of Honor (10) -- finished second in Tampa Bay Derby and third in Sam F Davis. We think he will hold off Gunnevera today
Second Gunnevera (11)
Third -- Three Rules (10)
--Jim Freer

Carryover Likely at Gulfstream

Bettors wagered $1,045,647 on the Gulfstream Park Rainbow 6 on Saturday.

The carryover comimg in was $1,660.086.
With four of the Rainbow 6 races run,  all winners were at 7-2 or lower.

Thus, another carryover is almost certain for Sunday--when Gulfstream will have a mandatory payoff on the carryover regardless of number of tickets with all six winners.

Seven Furlong Track Record Set at Gulfstream

Florida  Derby Day is off to a fast start, especially on the dirt

In the first race, Clearly Now set a track record of 1:20.15 for seven furlongs in winning a $62,500 allowance optional claimer.
Clearly Now, a non-gelded 7-yearold rallied from third place entering  the stretch and beat Heckuvsashot by  3 3/4 lengths.

Corey Lanerie rode Clearly Now for  trainer  Ron Fauchux.

Clearly Now broke the track record of 120.45 that the mare Hilda's Passion  set on March 19,2011.

Two other seven furlong dirt races were won in fast times.

The new record could be threatened in the upcoming Sir Shackelton Stakes.
-Jim Freer