(March 13, 2004) - Friends Lake pulled a shocker in the 1 1/8 miles Florida Derby (GI) Saturday at Gulfsteam when he scored a 3/4 length victory paying $76.80, the third highest win payoff in the race's 53 year history.

Overlooked by the bettors, who made Read The Footnotes the even money favorite, Friends Lake broke well, settling into fourth position. Frisky Spider and Value Plus were together on the lead as the field made its way down the backstretch, where they got the half mile in :47.05 seconds. Jockey Richard Migliore let Friends Lake settle some eight lengths off the lead at this point, but as the field moved through the turn, he swung his horse wide to go after the leaders. Frisky Spider began to fade quickly, and Value Plus took over entering the stretch. Read The Footnotes, who had been stalking in third, inherited second place, but could not sustain his bid and finished a non-threatening fourth. Meanwhile, Friends Lake made his move down the middle of the track, catching a stubborn Value Plus inside of the sixteenth pole, moving by that one to take his first graded stakes event.

Value Plus hung on well to be second, 3/4 of a length in front of an The Cliff's Edge. The latter had an eventful trip; being reluctant to load in the starting gate, steadied on the first turn, and also bumped in the stretch as he was closing solidly.

Friends Lake's victory was his first against open company; his other two wins coming over state breds in New York. He is, however, a very well-bred horse, being by A. P. Indy out of the grade one winning Antespend. He garnered $600,000 for owners Chester and Mary Broman. After the race, trainer John Kimmel said on ESPN2 he may train Friends Lake straight up to the Derby, but he would have to see what developed in the next week.

The winner paid a handsome $76.80, $24.80, and $12.20. Value Plus' place was worth $6.40 and $5.00. The Cliff's Edge returned $5.00 to show. The $2 exacta was $443.00.

In the seven furlong Swale Stakes (GIII), run right after the Florida Derby, sprint specialist Wynn Dot Comma nosed out favored Eurosilver for the win.

After the scratch of Saratoga County, the race was left with a field of five. Wynn Dot Comma broke quickly, settling just behind 6-5 second choice Chapel Royal. The pair raced together for the first half mile, getting the distance in a very quick :44.64. Chapel Royal, who had not raced since his third place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI), began to fade at the top of the stretch. Wynn Dot Comma opened up a length and a half lead at midstretch, but Eurosilver was closing resolutely. The two hit the wire together, with Wynn Dot Comma, under Edgar Prado nosing out Eurosilver and Javier Castellano.

The win was doubly sweet for Prado, who also picked up his 5,000 career victory as a jockey.

Wynn Dot Comma, who is not nominated to the Visa Triple Crown, earned $90,000 for owner Martin Cherry. The winner paid $10.00, $3.00, and $2.10. Eurosilver's runner-up was $2.40 and $2.10. Dashboard Drummer, who was a length in front of Chapel Royal, paid $2.10 to show. The $2 exacta was $19.40.

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