Countdown to G1 Curlin Florida Derby Begins Thursday

Stunner ML Favorite for 2026 Debut in Talent-Deep Feature
20-Cent Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Estimated at $225,000 Thursday
Mandatory 20-Cent Rainbow 6 Payout Scheduled for Sunday

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The countdown to Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa begins Thursday when live racing resumes at Gulfstream Park with a 10-race program.

LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable’s Stunner has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Thursday’s Race 8 feature, a six-furlong optional claiming allowance for older fillies and mares. The Brad Cox-trained multiple graded stakes-placed filly has gone unraced since finishing off the board in the Miss Preakness (G3) May 16 at Pimlico. The 4-year-old daughter of Girvin went into the Miss Preakness off runner-up finishes in the Forward Gal (G3) at Gulfstream and Beaumont (G2) at Keeneland. Bell Racing LLC’s Anna’s Promise, the Carlos David-trained Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) runner-up last year who went on to finish fifth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), is rated second on the morning line at 2-1.

Thursday’s feature will be included in the 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence that will span Races 5-10. The jackpot pool is expected to grow to an estimated $225,000 after going unsolved for four racing days.

A mile starter allowance for fillies and mares on turf will close out the Rainbow 6 sequence in Race 10. No Other Like You, a runaway first-off-the-claim winner for trainer David Fawkes, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of nine.

There will be a Super Hi 5 carryover of $8,493.06 in Race 10.

A mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool is scheduled for Sunday, closing day of the 2025-2026 Championship Meet. In the Rainbow 6, the jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool. On mandatory payout days, the entire pool is disbursed to the bettor or bettors holding tickets with the most winners in the six-race sequence.

Saturday’s 75th running of the Curlin Florida Derby promises to be one for the ages while bringing together four of the most top-rated Triple Crown prospects in the country in a loaded field of nine 3-year-olds. Hall of Fame trainers Bill Mott and Todd Pletcher will be well-represented by Chief Wallabee and Nearly, respectively. Chief Wallabee, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, is coming off a gutsy runner-up finish in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) in only his second career start. Nearly, Pletcher’s hope for a record-extending ninth Curlin Florida Derby win, has captured three races in a row at Gulfstream, including the Holy Bull (G3).

Trainer Brad Cox, who saddled Tappan Street for a victory in last year’s Curlin Florida Derby, will seek to repeat in Gulfstream’s definitive Kentucky Derby (G1) prep with Coolmore Fountain of Youth hero Commandment. Trainer Gustavo Delgado, who saddled Mage for a 2023 Kentucky Derby triumph following a runner-up finish in the Curlin Florida Derby, will send out Tampa Bay Derby (G3) victor The Puma.

The 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby offers 200 qualifying points for this year’s Kentucky Derby on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 to the first five finishers and will anchor a star-studded 14-race program, featuring 10 stakes, five graded, with purses totaling $2.675 million.

The $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) presented by City National Bank, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies; $175,000 Ghostzapper (G3) presented by FanDuel TV, a 1 1/16-mile stakes for older horses; $175,000 Orchid (G1), a 1 ½-mile turf test for older fillies and mares; and $225,000 Pan American (G3) presented by Rood & Riddle, a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses; will be supporting graded stakes to the Curlin Florida Derby.