INSIDE TRACK There have been 28 races run at Gulfstream Park this season at the Florida Derby's 1 1/8 mile distance. Horses with post positions nearer the rail performed best: There have been 24 winners from post positions 1 through 4, and only four winners from Post 5 outward. The rail has the most victories with nine. The No. 2 post is next with seven victories, followed by the No. 3 post with five and the No. 4 post with three triumphs. From the outside posts, the No. 7 stall has two winners, while the No. 5 and No. 6 post each have one.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT Among the horsemen participating in today's 57th running of the Florida Derby, three trainers, one jockey and one owner have won past renewals. Trainer Nick Zito, who sends out Fierce Wind and Da' Tara, finished first and second in the 2005 running with High Fly and Noble Causeway. Ken McPeek, who'll saddle Nistle's Crunch, won the 2002 edition with Harlan's Holiday. Todd Pletcher, who'll be represented by Face The Cat, won last year's race with Scat Daddy. The lone jockey to have won a Florida Derby is Jorge Chavez, named to ride Tomcito. Chavez won the 2001 running with Monarchos. The only owner to have stood in the Gulfstream Park winner's circle after a Florida Derby is Michael Tabor, a member of the partnership that is represented by Majestic Warrior. Tabor owned 1995 winner Thunder Gulch and was a co-owner of last year’s winner, Scat Daddy.
TOP JOCKS Five riders -- Bill Hartack, Bill Shoemaker, Mike Smith, Jerry Bailey, and Edgar Prado -- have won the Florida Derby three times. Hartack (1957-59) and Smith (1994-96) posted their triples in consecutive years. Prado has won the last two runnings, but is in Dubai today for the World Cup card.
TOP TRAINERS John Veitch is the winningest conditioner in Florida Derby history with three triumphs. He won in 1978 with Alydar, in 1985 with Proud Truth, and in 1988 with Brian's Time. Six trainers -- H.A. (Jimmy) Jones, Raymond Metcalf, Woody Stephens, Warren (Jimmy) Croll Jr., D. Wayne Lukas, and Carl Nafzger -- have won two Florida Derbys.
BY A NOSE, BY A POLE Five times the Florida Derby has been decided by a nose: in 1960 when Bally Ache outdueled Venetian Way, in 1962 when Ridan defeated the filly Cicada, in 1995 when Thunder Gulch caught Suave Prospect, in 1998 when Cape Town lost by a nose but was put up via the disqualification of Lil's Lad, and in 1999 when Vicar held safe Wondertross . . . The largest margin of victory came in 2003 when Empire Maker romped by 9 3/4 lengths.
SUNNY AND FAST The Florida Derby has a remarkable record of being run on a fast track: 46 of the last 47 runnings have been on a dry surface. Just four of the 56 runnings have been contested over a wet track: The strip was listed as sloppy in 1993, 1961, and 1955, and heavy in 1954.
MONEY, MONEY, MONEY The biggest toteboard meltdown came in 1966 when Williamston Kid paid $183.60 for a $2 win wager. He wasn't first across the wire, but was elevated to the top spot when Abe's Hope was disqualified and placed fourth . . . Honest Pleasure (1976) and Spectacular Bid (1979) returned the lowest win mutuel --- $2.10.
ROLL CALL The largest Florida Derby field was the first when, in 1952, Sky Ship defeated 17 rivals. The bulky field included a trio of two-horse entries and a four-horse mutuel field. The smallest Florida Derby field is five, in 1957 and in 1969. Gen. Duke won the 1957 running and was coupled with Calumet Farm stablemate, Iron Liege. Top Knight won in 1969.
WHAT A YEAR Saturday’s Florida Derby was first run on March 15, 1952 and was won by Brookmeade Stable's Sky Ship. What else happened in 1952? On Nov. 4, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected 34th President of the U.S. . . King George VI of England died. His daughter, Elizabeth, was proclaimed Queen of England . . . The hydrogen bomb was detonated for the first time. The contraceptive pill was introduced. Polio vaccine was developed. So was the transistor radio . . . Evita Peron, wife of Argentine President Juan Peron, died . . . Ernest Hemingway's novel “The Old Man and the Sea” was published . . . The New York Yankees won the World Series, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers, four games to three. . . At the grocery store, the price of a loaf of bread was 16 cents, which meant the $24.10 that Sky Ship paid to win would have bought a lot of dough, like more than 150 loaves.
SPLIT DECISIONS The only time the Florida Derby was run in two divisions was in 1977. Each renewal, offering a $100,000 purse, the first time in Florida racing history that two "hundred granders" were offered on the same card. Coined Silver won the first division and Ruthie's Native captured the nightcap.
FLA. DERBY SHORT TAKES In 1953 the Florida Derby became the first stakes race in Florida with a $100,000 purse . . . Gen. Duke equaled a world record for 1 1/8 miles (1:46 4/5) in winning the 1957 renewal . . . There have been two Florida Derby winners disqualified, Abe's Hope in 1966 and Lil's Lad in 1998 . . . Supplemented horses have performed extremely well in the Florida Derby, winning twice (Ruthie's Native in 1977 and Croeso in 1983), finishing second four times through Cicada (1962), Spanish Riddle (1972), Naked Sky (1980), and Badger Land (1986), and third three times with Gallant Lad (1965), Sky Guy (1966), Cassie Red (1970).