Big Brown became the century’s third colt to parlay a Florida Derby victory into a Kentucky Derby victory, and the second Florida Derby victor in three years to win the Run for the Roses off the five-week gap between the two Derbys.

Gulfstream Park, the only thoroughbred racetrack in South Florida to take bets on the Kentucky Derby, handled more than $1.63 million through the marquee event of the day. Final figures will be available Monday.

In all, there have been 12 Florida Derby winners to win the Kentucky Derby: The first was Needles (1956), followed by Tim Tam (1958), Carry Back (1961), Northern Dancer (1964), Forward Pass (1968), Spectacular Bid (1979), Swale (1984), Unbridled (1990), Thunder Gulch (1995), Monarchos (2001) and Barbaro (2006).

Like Barbaro, Big Brown remained undefeated after his Kentucky Derby victory.

Big Brown, now four-for-four, registered a five-length victory in the Florida Derby on March 29. First run in 1952, the nine-furlong, $1 million race will have its 58th running in 2009.