Horse Racing Articles By Greg Melikov

Revenge Is Written All Over 56th Florida Derby

Revenge Is Written All Over 56th Florida Derby
By GREG MELIKOV

Three of the top four finishers in the Fountain of Youth (FOY) Stakes renew rivalries Saturday in the 56th running of the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Scat Daddy and Stormello, noses apart March 3, haven’t scared away competition. The absence of Nobiz Like Shobiz may be the reason. The son of Alfred the Great, beaten odds-on favorite in the FOY another half-length back in third, opted for the Wood Memorial on April 7 at Aqueduct.

The 10 likely starters in Gulfstream’s showcase race would comprise the 14th double-digit field since Snow Chief defeated 15 others in 1986.

Adore the Gold, a half-length behind Nobiz Like Shobiz, is looking for revenge after his fourth place finish. The son of Formal Gold ducked to the outside at the FOY break and was used to gain position.

He tracked gutsy Stormello with Nobiz Like Shobiz and Scat Daddy behind him. Then he challenged for the lead on the far turn, almost looked Stormello in the eye and battled to the wire before weakening slightly.

There’s also a new, top contender in town, Hallandale Beach, shipping in from California: Notional.

The son of In Excess is undefeated this year and goes for No. 3 in a row at a different track. On Jan. 13, he won the San Rafael by four lengths at Santa Anita and captured the Risen Star by 2 ¼ lengths on Feb. 10 at Fair Grounds.

Notional also wants revenge following his sixth place finish behind Stormello in the Hollywood Futurity on Dec. 16 after losing by only 2 ½ lengths. Add Stormello to the revenge list as he hopes to turn the tables on Scat Daddy after becoming sixth 3-year-old to lose the FOY by a nose since the inaugural in ’45.

If either prevails, the winner would become the sixth coast-to-coast runner to perform the feat since Correlation in ’54. After Snow Chief scored 21 years ago, the charismatic colt captured the Preakness gaining revenge for failing to hit the board in the Kentucky Derby.




by Greg Melikov