Big Brown Draws Tough Post in Florida Derby

Unbeaten BIG BROWN (Boundary) drew rave reviews when making his three-year-old debut in a March 5 allowance at Gulfstream Park, winning by a smashing 12 3/4-length margin, and stamped himself as a top contender for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1). The Richard Dutrow runner was installed as the 3-1 favorite on the morning line for Saturday's 57th running of Gulfstream's centerpiece event, but Big Brown will have to overcome post 12 in the Florida Derby. No horse has won a 1 1/8-mile race from that starting position since Gulfstream reconfigured its track in 2005.

Big Brown, who broke his maiden by 11 1/4 lengths over the turf at Saratoga before heading to the sidelines, will bring a two-for-two mark into his stakes debut. He was scheduled to return to the races on the turf in the aforementioned allowance, but the race was transferred to the main track due to the course condition. Big Brown went on to sail on the front end, and he's been working up a storm since then, drilling consecutive five-furlong bullet moves at Palm Meadows in advance of the Florida Derby. His :59 1/5 move on Tuesday was at least one second faster than 41 other workers at the five-furlong distance. Kent Desormeaux will retain the mount on the bay colt.

Big Brown will be tested for class against 11 challengers. Sam F. Davis S. hero FIERCE WIND (Dixie Union) will bring a three-race winning skein into his graded bow, and the Nick Zito-trained colt will break from the rail with regular rider Cornelio Velasquez. The Hall of Fame conditioner will also be represented by DA' TARA (Tiznow), a smart maiden special weight winner two starts back over the track and distance who exits a third-place effort versus allowance rivals.

Fountain of Youth (G2) runner-up ELYSIUM FIELDS (El Prado [Ire]) is listed as the 4-1 second choice on Gulfstream handicapper Chuck Silva's morning line. Trained by Barclay Tagg, Elysium Fields broke his maiden by eight lengths two starts back and turned in an extremely promising showing in his first start versus winners last time, re-rallying late to just miss by a half-length to Cool Coal Man (Mineshaft) in the 1 1/8-mile Fountain of Youth. Leading rider Eibar Coa will be back in the saddle.

HEY BYRN (Put It Back), who followed a 14 1/2-length, one-mile allowance romp at Gulfstream with a six-length allowance thrashing at 1 1/8 miles last time, is the 5-1 third choice on the morning line. Jose Lezcano will replace Edgar Prado, who is riding in Dubai on Saturday, on the promising colt from Eddie Plesa Jr.'s shedrow. MAJESTIC WARRIOR (A.P. Indy), a fast-closing winner of last year's Hopeful S. (G1), will attempt to rebound from a last-out seventh in his 2008 debut, the Louisiana Derby (G2). He'll be running late under new jockey Rene Douglas.

FACE THE CAT (Tale of the Cat), last seen winning a January 30 allowance by four lengths, will finally return to the races. Two-for-three overall, the chestnut colt was sold to new connections and transferred to Todd Pletcher following his latest outing. Hutcheson S. (G2) victor SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz), a closing third in the Sam Davis most recently, and recent allowance winners NISTLE'S CRUNCH (Van Nistelrooy) and B B FRANK (Came Home) also merit consideration. COOL GATOR (Macho Uno) will step up in class following a runner-up effort against allowance foes, and the Florida Derby marks the U.S. debut for Peruvian import TOMCITO (Street Cry [Ire]). The Dante Zanelli charge exits a pair of convincing Group 1 scores in Peru.

Fierce Wind is listed at 6-1 on the morning line. Next in post parade order comes Smooth Air, Manoel Cruz, 12-1; Da' Tara, Joe Bravo, 20-1; Tomcito, Jorge Chavez, 12-1; Cool Gator, Eddie Castro, 20-1; Nistle's Crunch, Julien Leparoux, 10-1; B B Frank, Javier Castellano, 20-1; Elysium Fields; Hey Byrn; Majestic Warrior, 15-1; Face the Cat, John Velazquez, 8-1; and Big Brown.

All runners will carry 122 pounds.