Derby News

            King of the Roxy, piloted by Edgar Prado, made a successful return to the races with a powerful 2 ¼-length victory over Bold Start in the $150,000 Hutcheson (GII) at Gulfstream Park.

            The 3-year-old son of Littleexpectations covered the 7 ½-furlong distance over a "fast" track in 1:28.00 and paid $15.40 to win as the fifth choice in the field of nine.

            King of the Roxy was off a bit sluggishly but quickly asserted himself into a good stalking position in the tightly packed field.  Previously undefeated Spin Master and longshot Finallymadeit dueled through scorching fractions of :22.07 for the first quarter-mile and :44.37 for the first half-mile, with Spectacular Bid runner-up Out of Gwedda tracking from third.  King of the Roxy moved into the lead on the turn and extended his lead under mild urging.  Bold Start ran well to be second, 5 ½-lengths in front of third place finisher Out of Gwedda.

            Reata's Rocket finished fourth, followed by Air Lord, Storm in May, Forefathers, Finallymadeit, and Spin Master.  Forefathers lost all chance at the start after spotting the field several lengths and then was forced wide around the turn.

            King of the Roxy is owned by Team Valor Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher.  Pletcher also won the Richter Scale (GII) with undefeated Half Ours and the Fountain of Youth (GII) with Scat Daddy.

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