Simplification installed as 5-2 choice in 11-horse Florida Derby; Kathleen O tops Gulfstream Oaks

Mar 30, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Simplification will look to bolster his Kentucky Derby credentials
when he lines up for Saturday’s $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream
Park. The 5-2 morning line favorite tops a deep 11-horse field that includes Charge It, Classic Causeway, and White
Abarrio.

As a major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby
series, the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby will award points on a 100-40-20-10 scale
to the top four finishers.

Simplification opened his three-year-old season with a
convincing wire-to-wire win in the Mucho Macho Man S. Expected to show speed in
the Holy Bull (G3), the Antonio Sano-trained colt missed the break but overcame
the disastrous start by closing for second. The son of Not This Time continued
to show his versatility in the March 5 Fountain of Youth, rallying from midpack
to win going away by 3 1/2 lengths, and Simplification will try to carray his
improving form forward in the Florida Derby. Jose Ortiz rides.

Tampa Bay Derby (G2) victor Classic Causeway may be the one
to catch from post 2 with Irad Ortiz Jr. After placing in a pair of juvenile
stakes, the Giant’s Causeway colt has advanced as a three-year-old for Brian
Lynch, winning the Tampa Bay Derby and Sam F. Davis (G3) by open lengths on the
front end, and Classic Causeway is listed as the 7-2 co-third choice.

Charge It, who will make his anticipated stakes debut for
Todd Pletcher, has also been pegged at 7-2. By Tapit, the gray colt exits an 8
1/2-length, wire-to-wire maiden win over a one-turn mile at Gulfstream, and
Luis Saez will be back aboard the exciting sophomore.

Third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs
last fall, White Abarrio will make his second start of the season following a 4
1/2-length victory in the Feb. 5 Holy Bull. Tyler Gaffalione will be up on the
gray son of Race Day for Saffie Joseph Jr., and White Abarrio is the early 3-1
second choice.

Other runners include Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Pappacap and Fountain of Youth third O Captain.

Two races earlier on the program, seven fillies will contest
the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). The major qualifier awards points on a
100-40-20-10 scale toward a berth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on May 6.

Kathleen O, who
remained unbeaten recording a two-length victory in the March 5 Davona Dale
(G2) at Gulfstream, is the prohibitive 4-5 favorite on the morning line. Shug
McGaughey trains the late-running daughter of Upstart, and Javier Castellano
retains the mount.

Goddess of Fire,
a half-length second in the Feb. 19 Rachel Alexandra (G2) at Fair Grounds, is
the main rival. Trained by Pletcher, the Mineshaft filly does her best running
from off the pace, and Saez has the call.