IEAH Stable and partners’ imposing Big Brown overcame the far outside post position 12 and limited experience to drive home a five-length winner of the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) Saturday at Gulfstream Park, remaining undefeated in just three career starts in a performance likely to send him into the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs among the favorites.
Ridden by Kent Desormeaux for trainer Rick Dutrow, Big Brown won his only start last year on turf at Saratoga by 11¼ lengths and his only appearance this year over the Gulfstream main track going one mile by 12¾ lengths on Mar. 5. Desormeaux let the big bay colt by Boundary roll from the far outside in the short run to the first turn and he was able to take command by the time the time he turned up the backstretch.
Mount Joy Stable’s 16-1 longshot Smooth Air ran a big race to finish second, 7½ lengths before Jet Set Racing’s Peruvian-raced Tomcito, making his U.S. debut. Big Brown was sent off the 3-2 favorite and paid $5 as he was timed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48:16 over the fast track.
Winning Jockey Quotes
Kent Desormeaux:
“My plan was not to get on the lead, but rather to get close enough to the rail so as not to get caught wide. Riding him was like bounding through a meadow. He just galloped around. When a horse sets fractions like that and still tells me that he’s got more, and that the other horses can’t get to him, that’s something special. He’s a major talent; possibly the best horse I’ve ridden. I thought that after the first time I rode him. I’d have to say that he’s my (Kentucky) Derby horse.”
Manoel Cruz (Smooth Air, 2nd) – “He held good position. When I moved, he responded for me, but not sufficient enough to catch the number 12 (Big Brown). I’m really happy for the horse, and that we finished second, but the most important thing is that the horse comes back healthy.”
Jorge Chavez (Tomcito, 3rd) – “He ran a really nice race. He got a little tired at the end, but he hadn’t run in a while. I think he has a lot of promise, and I think he wants more distance to his races. The track he ran at in Peru is a big track, a lot like Belmont.”
John Velazquez (Face the Cat) - “He (Face the Cat) got off to a good start and got into good position for me, handled the track well, but when I asked him, he didn’t fire. He just went evenly around, but didn’t have that final kick. I don’t know? He worked great the other day.”
Winning Trainer Quote
Rick Dutrow:
“We’ve got a Kentucky Derby contender. It’s a long way off, and a lot of things have to happen right, but I expected him to run just like what we saw. This day ranks on top of my career. He came out of the gate like we wanted him to. I loved being on the outside. It eliminated our chance of getting in trouble. Going into the race, the only way we cold get beat was if we got in trouble. In the first turn I knew it was over. I knew the horses in here couldn’t catch him. All I have to do is stay out of his way. I let him do what he wants.”
Nick Zito (Fierce Wind & Da’Tara) – “I'm really disappointed with Fierce Wind. He was laying close to the winner and I would have thought he could have held on for second or third. He wasn't going to get to that winner. He's (Big Brown) three-for-three and looking very impressive. As far as Da Tara goes, he just needs to wake up.”
Bill Mott (Majestic Warrior) – “He was a little green going between horses at the three-eighths pole. He hesitated, but all he was going to be was maybe second or third. He's still got to do something because he's still green.”
Barclay Tagg (Eysium Fields) – “At this point I don't know what happened. The jockey said he ran for a half and then had no horse. Not sure. Maybe he displaced.”
Fractions:
22:76, 45:83, 1:10:08, 1:35:18 & 1:48:16