Jimmy’s Dailys ‘Really Good’ Heading into G1 Florida Derby

Anna’s Promise Taking Step Up in G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks
Forged Steel Stays on Grass for $165,000 Cutler Bay
Mrs Worldwide Chasing Stakes Win in Sanibel Island
Vina Arana Launching Comeback in Sand Springs
Mott Opts for One-Turn Army Mule for Knightsbridge

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – After seeing the light go on in Owen Almighty’s second try around two turns, trainer Brian Lynch is hoping for a similar type of response from stablemate Jimmy’s Dailys in Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby for 3-year-olds, one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps, anchors a spectacular 14-race program Saturday at Gulfstream Park that features 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses. Post time is 11:30 a.m. (ET)

As a qualifying race for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1), the Florida Derby offers points to the first five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.

Jimmy’s Dailys will be making his fifth career start and stakes debut in the Florida Derby, coming off a runner-up finish to undefeated Grande in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Feb. 27 at Gulfstream. He was ridden that day by Irad Ortiz Jr., who is committed on Disruptor for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the Florida Derby.

“He hung the whole way down the backside and he was on rein and Irad felt like if he could have steered him it could have been a little bit different,” Lynch said of the most recent run. “Hopefully we’ve ironed that kink out. He’s training really good, so we’re excited about running him.”

Jimmy’s Dailys is by Vekoma, a Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs and a mile that was third in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream and second in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G2) in 2019. Earlier this month, Owen Almighty was a front-running 3 ½-length winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) after having run second by a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis – his first race beyond one mile.

“I think as good as Owen Almighty ran in his second time around two turns, this horse is going to show the same sort of things,” Lynch said. “It’s his second go around two turns, he knows what he’s doing now, [and] he’s a lot fitter for it. We’ll find out what class level he’s at now, whether he can run with these horses and whether we’ve got our [Kentucky] Derby contender.”

Hall of Famer Joel Rosario is named on Jimmy’s Dailys from Post 6 in a field of 10. Tey are rated at 12-1 on the morning line.

Jimmy’s Dailys is a homebred of Donald Dizney, who is synonymous with Florida racing as past president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association and owner of Double Diamond Farm near Ocala. Among his best horses have been Grade 1 winner First Dude, runner-up in the 2010 Preakness (G1); 2013 Smile Sprint (G3) winner Bahamian Squall, 2011 Mr. Prospector (G3) winner Apriority and 1996 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1) winner Wekiva Springs.

“I’ve had a few for him over the years,” Lynch said. “I know they’re very excited, as I am, and he seems like a nice little horse to do it with, too.”

Anna’s Promise Taking Step Up in G2 Gulfstream Park Oaks

Bell Racing’s Anna’s Promise, an impressive winner off the claim in her last start, chases a third consecutive victory when she takes the step up into stakes company for the first time in Saturday’s $250,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).

The 1 1/16-mile Oaks for 3-year-old fillies offers qualifying points for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) to the first five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.

“I feel like we’ve got a pretty good shot,” trainer Carlos David said. “She showed some class the last time we ran her off the claim stretching out on the dirt. I thought she beat some pretty nice fillies that day. I think she has what it takes. She ran a great number, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Claimed for $50,000 out of a victory in her sophomore debut Feb. 5, Anna’s Promise returned with a determined one-length optional claiming victory over Justinqueso going 1 1/16 miles March 6, improving her to 2-0 over Gulfstream’s main track. Also in the field that day were a pair from Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher including favored Blueberry Hill.

“It really wasn’t in the plans, it just kind of happened that way,” David said. “We were kind of waiting for the starter 50 non-winners of one race other than maiden or claiming and we couldn’t get one going. I presented it to the owner, why don’t we run in there. She’s ready to run.

“It made sense to go against 3-year-old fillies. There’s no harm running her long again. She ran long one time before at Churchill and if she didn’t perform good we can always come back in a starter race,” he added. “We’re really happy that she won against some good horses.”

Anna’s Promise drew outermost Post 7 in the Gulfstream Park Oaks and will be ridden by Luis Saez, up for her most recent win. They are rated third on the morning line at 4-1, behind Five G (8-5) and The Queens M G (9-5).

“I think she doesn’t necessarily have to be in front or second even. I think she’s pretty handy. I’ll leave it up to Luis. He rode her and won on her last time, so hopefully we get a good trip,” David said. “It does feel like a good spot. We’ve got some nice fillies going in there. It’s a pretty good bunch. I think we’re going to give them a run for their money.”

Forged Steel Stays on Grass for $165,000 Cutler Bay

C2 Racing Stable and Mathis Stable’s 3-year-old colt Forged Steel, given brief consideration for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), will instead stay on turf looking for his first stakes win in Saturday’s $165,000 Cutler Bay at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Championship Meet leader Saffie Joseph Jr., who Neoequos – co-owned by C2 – in the Florida Derby, Forged Steel drew outermost Post 9 in the Cutler Bay for 3-year-olds going 7 ½ furlongs on the grass.

“I think he’s better on the turf,” Joseph said. “He’s been OK on the dirt and we almost toyed with trying him back on it, but we just thought this race was a big race to prep for the race at Churchill they have on the grass.”

The $1 million American Turf (G1) for 3-year-olds going 1 1/16 miles is part of the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard May 3. He has been two turns once before, finishing sixth to Florida Derby favorite Sovereignty in last fall’s Street Sense (G3), also at Churchill.

Forged Hill has won twice in six starts, both on grass, including a one-mile optional claimer Feb. 9 at Gulfstream. He returned to finish fourth behind Mi Bago in the March 1 Colonial Liam; runner-up Enterdadragon is entered in the Florida Derby.

“He’s coming out of the Colonel Liam and I think he goes in there with a very good chance,” Joseph said. “Obviously [Mi Bago] is not in there and [Enterdadragon] is not in there, so that makes it a lot easier. I believe he goes in there as a deserving favorite and he should run well.”

Triple Crown-nominated Kinetic Control and Classic of Course are both entered for their turf debut. Sixth to Burnham Square in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3), Kinetic Control returned to be second in a one-mile optional claimer March 9. Classic of Course, four times stakes-placed including all three legs of last fall’s Florida Sire Series for 2-year-olds, was beaten a head in an open 1 1/16-mile allowance on the all-weather Tapeta course Feb. 6.

I’m Due, Change At Jamaica, Nov. 29 Pulpit runner-up Hit That Review, Wakan, Discreet Dancer and Bakers Street are also entered.

Mrs Worldwide Chasing Stakes Win in Sanibel Island

Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing’s Mrs Worldwide, who nearly became a graded winner in her grass debut, will make the short cutback to 7 ½ furlongs when she returns to Gulfstream Park for the $165,000 Sanibel Island Saturday.

The Sanible Island for 3-year-old fillies on the turf is among 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses on a 14-race program anchored by the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps.

Trainer Brian Lynch was thrilled with Mrs Worldwide’s performance in the one-mile Herecomesthebride (G3) March 1, dueling up front and forging a short lead at the top of the stretch before coming up a neck short of Vixen, who also won the Feb. 1 Sweetest Chant and was second in last fall’s Natalma (G1) at Woodbine.

“It was hard not to be [happy with it]. It was a game effort and she did everything but win it. She just didn’t get her head down at the right time. [Vixen] has got legit form too so I think it’ll end up being a pretty key race,” Lynch said. “We shorten up to 7 ½ [furlongs] so that might be a little bit to her liking. She’s come out of her race well and looks well and we’re excited about running her back [this] weekend.”

Luis Saez rides back from Post 2 in an overflow field of 11.

Godolphin homebred Civetta, fifth by 1 ½ lengths in the Herecomesthebride, won Gulfstream’s 7 ½-furlong Wait a While Nov. 28 on the grass and was second in last fall’s Matron (G3) and third in the Jan. 4 Ginger Brew, beaten a half-length combined.

Rounding out the field are Candy Quest, Ginger Brew runner-up Love Cervere, stakes-placed It’s Witchcraft, Annie Goodbody, Bunratty Manor, Spirited Boss and Classic Q, fourth by a half-length in the Herecomesthebride. Temple City Taboo is the lone also-eligible.

Vina Arana Launching Comeback in Sand Springs

Sterling Stables and MHM Stables’ Irish Group 3-placed Vina Arana, unraced since breaking her maiden in her lone North American start last August at Saratoga, makes her highly anticipated 4-year-old debut Saturday at Gulfstream Park in the $165,000 Sand Springs for older fillies and mares going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Vina Arana was bred in Ireland where she was winless in four starts, the first three on synthetic surfaces before being beaten less than a length when third in last spring’s Mutamakina (G3) going a mile on the turf.

She went off the favorite in her stateside debut, a one-mile maiden special weight against older horses, sweeping seven wide and going on to a 1 ¼-length triumph Aug. 23. Hall of Famer Joel Rosario rides from Post 3 in an overflow field of 13.

“She was much the best in the maiden race, we knew [that] going into it,” trainer Jack Sisterson said. “She has shown a lot of speed on the quicker turf course at Palm Meadows. I think she’ll jump and go forward and place herself.”

Vina Arana, whose sire, Make Believe, was a two-time Group 1 winner on the grass in France, arrived in the U.S. with high expectations and early on flashed her .

“She showed a lot of promise. We were excited to debut in a maiden race in the U.S.,” Sisterson said. “We put her with a few fillies that were graded-stakes winners in Saratoga and she more than held her own if not outworked them [so] we thought she’d break her maiden. [Then] she had a few little issues and we gave her some time off.

“She’s eligible for all her conditions. She’s 4 now. She’s bigger and stronger,” he added. “She’s proved that she can fit with these. [There are] a couple of other fillies in the race that we used to have and we know the competition. I think she’ll run very well.”

Movin’ On Up and Spinning Colors both come into the Sand Springs off last-out optional claiming wins going a mile on the Gulfstream turf. Movin’ On Up is one of four in the race from trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., along with 2023 Tropical Park Oaks winner Be My Sunshine; Blind Spot, a two-time Tapeta stakes winner; and In Our Time, runner-up in the March 1 Honey Fox (G3) and 2024 Tropical Park Oaks and third in the Pegasus World Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G2).

Majestic Venezuela, Breath Away, Autumn Evening, Buttercream Babe, Ocean Club and Five Towns are also entered. Ripassare is on the also-eligible list.

Mott Opts for One-Turn Army Mule for Knightsbridge

Nominated to both the 1 1/16-mile Ghostzapper (G3) and the seven-furlong Army Mule on Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) undercard at Gulfstream Park, Godolphin’s Knightsbridge will bypass a graded-stakes start around two turns in favor of the one-turn sprint.

Untested at longer distances, Knightsbridge has shown flashes of brilliance in his well-spaced four career starts, all around one turn.

“I guess someday we’ll have the opportunity to try him around two turns. I always thought seven [furlongs] to a mile was his best [distance] but watching him work made me think maybe he does want to go on,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “I think when we get a little more experience in him, we’ll get that opportunity to try it. It’s probably a thing you need to try once. The best test is a race in the afternoon.”

Knightsbridge has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in a field of 10 older horses assembled for the Army Mule.

The 4-year-old son of Nyquist won his Nov. 4, 2023 debut going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs by 10 ¼ lengths. The Godolphin homebred returned nearly five months later to turn in a sharp front-running nine-length optional claiming allowance score over a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park. More than six months later, he raced evenly to finish third in the seven-furlong Perryville (G3) at Keeneland. He was involved in a pressured pace in an Feb. 15 optional claiming allowance over a one-turn mile at Gulfstream before finishing second.

“He’s doing great, but I thought he was doing good going into the last one and we got beat,” said Mott, who will saddle Godolphin’s Sovereignty for a start in the Curlin Florida Derby as the 8-5 morning-line favorite. “He’s been doing well. He’s worked well enough, and he’s got that race under his belt after a bit of time off.”

Joel Rosario will fill in for regular rider Junior Alvarado, who sustained a shoulder injury in a racing mishap Sunday.