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‘Distance Is Gonna Be His Friend’: McGaughey Confident In Florida Derby Favorite Greatest Honour

Courtlandt Farms' homebred Greatest Honour could become the first horse in history to win all three graded prep races for the Kentucky Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Trainer Shug McGaughey believes the 3-year-old is up to the task ahead of this Saturday's Grade 1 Florida Derby.

“I've got a lot of confidence in him,” McGaughey said on Tuesday's NTRA media conference call. “I think with him winning here (at Gulfstream) going a mile and a sixteenth, over a speed favoring racetrack, with a short stretch, that says a lot about him, because I don't think that's what he wants to do.

“A mile and an eighth should suit him a lot better than this mile and a sixteenth with a short pole… Distance is gonna be his friend.”

The Tapit colt took three tries to break his maiden, but hasn't lost a race since. Greatest Honour was impressive winning January's G3 Holy Bull Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths, but was arguably even more impressive last out in the G2 Fountain of Youth. Well behind his rivals early with a slow pace ahead of him, and still 8 1/2 lengths behind the leader with five-sixteenths of a mile to run, Greatest Honour surged late win by 1 1/2 lengths.

“In the Holy Bull everything went right, and in the Fountain of Youth, everything went wrong,” quipped McGaughey. “I thought it was a good learning experience for him, and he was still able to win.”

Even before Greatest Honour broke his maiden, McGaughey had been plotting a Florida path to the Kentucky Derby for the colt. It's the same route the trainer took with Derby winner Orb ahead of the 2013 Run for the Roses.

“I kind of had in my mind that if he's this kind of horse he's gonna need racing, so we got him down here and that's what he's done,” McGaughey said. “My philosophy is unless we think we deserve to be (in the Kentucky Derby), we won't be there.”

McGaughey has been training for Donald and Donna Adams' Courtlandt Stable for just shy of 10 months now, with Kentucky-based Ernie Retamoza managing the stable. The new clients have been easy to work for, McGaughey said, and there are several nice horses he's looking forward to running in 2021.

“I predict that we're gonna have a good, long, meaningful relationship, and it started off pretty good with Greatest Honour,” the trainer summarized.

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Baffert: Spielberg Has To Get Away From The Gate Well In Florida Derby

A mix of talent, opportunity and timing has produced Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's first venture to Gulfstream Park for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa.

Baffert, the most successful trainer in Triple Crown history, will make his debut Saturday in Gulfstream Park's steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Spielberg, a chestnut son of Union Rags. Spielberg, who will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano in the 70th Florida Derby, won the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) on Dec. 19. In his most recent start, Spielberg finished second to Essential Quality, the 2020 2-year-old male champion, in the Southwest (G3) on Feb. 27 at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.

Based in Southern California, Baffert has recorded some important victories in his 21 starts at Gulfstream Park. Twenty-nine years ago, he picked up his first Breeders' Cup win with Thirty Slews in the Sprint (G1). More recently, he has won two runnings of the Pegasus World Cup (G1).

Again this year, Baffert has a deep lineup of Kentucky Derby prospects vying for qualifying points for the May 1 Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs. He said the Florida Derby, with its 170 qualifying points contested five weeks before the Kentucky Derby, fit his schedule. Though unbeaten San Felipe (G2) winner Life is Good will miss the Triple Crown while recovering from an injury that required surgery, Baffert has San Felipe runner-up Medina Spirit for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and the first two finishers in the Rebel (G2), Concert Tour and Hozier, for the Arkansas Derby (G1).

He opted to send Spielberg to South Florida, where he will face Greatest Honour, whose three victories over the track include the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Holy Bull (G3).

“I have all these horses and I'm going to separate them out,” Baffert said. “[Spielberg] ran well at Arkansas. Broke horribly, came on and ran second. He wasn't going to beat the winner. We'll take him down there [to Florida]. See how he ships down there and see how he stacks up. The California horses, I think, are pretty strong. Maybe I can get lucky if I can win or run second. That would be nice. But it's a tough task. We'll give it a try.”

The partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC and Robert E. Masterson purchased Spielberg for $1 million as a yearling as the 2019 Keeneland September sale. He developed nicely and Baffert sent him out for his first race on Aug. 8 at Del Mar. After that second-place finish, Baffert moved him into Grade 1 company, where he was second in the Del Mar Futurity and third as the favorite in the American Pharoah. He stepped back into a maiden race to capture his first win by a neck and has been in graded stakes since. The Florida Derby will be his ninth career start, the most for any of the horses expected to be entered for the 1 1/8 miles race.

Spielberg had problems at the start of his last two races, which left him far off the early pace and compromised his chances. He was bumped at the start of the Robert Lewis (G3) on Jan. 30 and ended up fourth. In the Southwest under Martin Garcia, he was not prepared when the gates opened.

Repeating his mantra, what he typically offers in his pre-race analysis, Baffert said, “They've got to get away. To me, it's all about getting away. They've got to get away from there.” Baffert did say that Spielberg ran well in the Southwest after the poor start.

Through the years while amassing a record-tying six wins in the Kentucky Derby and a record 16 victories in the Triple Crown, Baffert has won prep races in New York, Kentucky, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico. He selected the Florida Derby for Spielberg because of its place on the calendar five weeks ahead of the Kentucky Derby, rather than four-week options.

Spielberg's sire, Union Rags, was third as the favorite in the 2012 Florida Derby. He went on to capture the Belmont Stakes (G1) and is one of the 60 winners of Triple Crown races who have competed in the Florida Derby.

According to Equibase statistics, Baffert has a 4-4-2 record in his 21 starts, all in stakes races, at Gulfstream Park and has earned $12,362,950 in purse money. Each of the victories was in a Grade 1 race. Baffert won with his first Gulfstream runner, Thirty Slews in the 1992 Breeders' Cup, and with his his most recent starter, Mucho Gusto in the 2020 Pegasus World Cup. He also won the 2001 Donn Handicap with Captain Steve and the inaugural Pegasus World Cup with Arrogate.

Prior to Arrogate's victory in 2017, the trainer's first Gulfstream starter in 10 years, Baffert reflected on Thirty Slews' victory. He said it was “just like a fairy tale race for me,” with the first Thoroughbred he had purchased – for $30,000 – as he transitioned from training Quarter Horses.

“When he hit the wire, I was up there in the box and I thought that I had reached just the pinnacle of my career,” he said, laughing. “I thought, 'Man, this is not going to get any better than this.' I had just won a Breeders' Cup Sprint. I was just jumping up and down.”

Post positions for the Florida Derby will be drawn Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. and can be viewed at GulfstreamPark.com.

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On Two Coasts, Greatest Honour And Spielberg Breeze Toward Florida Derby; Post Position Draw Wednesday

Spielberg breezed five furlongs Sunday morning at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., while tuning up for a scheduled start at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., in Saturday's $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the son of Union Rags was timed in 59.40 seconds, the second fastest clocking of 81 workouts recorded at the distance.

“He went well. He's very workmanlike and he's steady,” Baffert said. “He's doing well.”

Spielberg is slated to make his third 2021 start in the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, which has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown events.

In his 2021 debut, the Kentucky-bred colt stumbled at the start of the Robert B. Lewis (G3) at Santa Anita before finishing fourth behind Baffert-trained winner Medina Spirit. He then finished second Feb. 27 in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn Park behind unbeaten Essential Quality.

Spielberg had a productive six-race juvenile campaign, in which he finished second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) and third in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita before breaking his maiden in his fourth start. He went on to win the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) two starts later.

Javier Castellano has the mount on Spielberg, who is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Golconda Stables, Siena Farm LLC and Robert Masterson.

Greatest Honour Pleases McGaughey in Sunday Breeze
Courtlandt Farms' Greatest Honour tuned up for the Florida Derby with a half-mile breeze at Payson Park in Indiantown, Fla., on Sunday morning, pleasing his Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

“He's not a good work horse, but I thought this was a lot like his work before the Fountain of Youth, maybe better,” McGaughey said.

Greatest Honour, who is coming off an impressive off-the-pace win in the Feb. 27 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream, was timed in 50.40 seconds.

“I liked the way he worked. The other day, he went off a little quicker than I wanted,” McGaughey said. “I impressed upon [the rider] to just let him ease away from the pole and finish up strong, which he did. I got the last quarter in 13-and-change.”

The son of Tapit broke his maiden in his fourth career start December 26 at Gulfstream before capturing the Jan. 30 Holy Bull (G3) by 5 ¾ lengths and establishing himself as a prime Triple Crown candidate with a going-away 1 ½-length victory in the Fountain of Youth.

Also at Payson Park Sunday morning, Michael P. Shanley's Nova Rags breezed three furlongs in 38.60 seconds for the Florida Derby.

“His works have been very steady,” Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott said. “He's worked well enough here at Payson Park and I think he's plenty fit.”

Nova Rags is coming off a second-place finish behind Mott stablemate Candy Man Can in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, where the son of Union Rags won the seven-furlong Pasco by 2 ¾ lengths in his previous start.

At Gulfstream Park, Collaborate breezed five furlongs in 1:01.18 in preparation for making the leap from maiden company to a Grade 1 stakes in the Florida Derby. The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained son of Into Mischief worked in company with Queen Nekia, the winner of the Royal Delta (G3) in her most recent start, who was timed in 1:02.49.

“The first eighth he went off a little slow in 14-and-change and picked it up after that. He galloped out well for the next eighth after the wire,” Joseph said. “Overall, I'm very pleased with the work. I'm happy with him.”

Collaborate graduated by 12 ½ lengths under wraps Feb. 27 the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) undercard while completing a one-turn mile in 1:36.35.

Florida Derby Post Position Draw on Wednesday
Florida Derby Week kicks off Wednesday with the post-position draw for Saturday's $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farm at Xalapa.

The draw will be simulcast on GulfstreamPark.com at 12:15 p.m. ET. The 70^th running of the 1 1/8-mile Derby, which has produced 45 starters to win a remarkable 60 Triple Crown events, is expected to draw Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) and Holy Bull (G3) winner Greatest Honour, multiple Grade 1 stakes-placed Spielberg, Known Agenda, Collaborate and Nova Rags.

Saturday's Derby Day program will have 10 stakes, six graded, worth nearly $2 million. Races include the $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) and $200,000 Pan American (G2) presented by Rood & Riddle.

First-race post time for Saturday's 14-race Derby Day program is 11:30 a.m. Advanced wagering on Saturday's 14 races will be available Friday.

The Silks simulcasting room will open at 8 a.m. Saturday for ticketed patrons. The simulcast of eight races from Dubai, including the Dubai World Cup (G1) featuring Pegasus World Cup (G1) runner-up and South Florida-based Jesus' Team, is scheduled to begin at 8:15 a.m.

Watch and wager on Gulfstream's races at https://1st.com/bet/ and Xpressbet.com

There will be live racing at Gulfstream Wednesday through Friday with first-race post time at 1:10 p.m. There will be a mandatory payout of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 Saturday on Florida Derby Day. The Championship Meet at Gulfstream concludes Sunday.

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Known Agenda Tunes Up For Florida Derby With Five-Furlong Breeze

St. Elias Stable's Known Agenda breezed five furlongs in 1:02.52 Saturday morning at Palm Beach Downs, tuning up for next Saturday's $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale at Xalapa at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

“I thought he went great. The first eighth was a little slow. He went off in like 14 (seconds) and went the last half in 48-and-1. He looked good and seemed happy,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “I've liked the way he's been training since his last race.”

Known Agenda is coming off a sharp 11-length optional claiming allowance victory Feb. 26 at Gulfstream Park at the 1 1/8-mile distance of the Florida Derby. After getting away last and finishing fifth in the Feb. 6 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, the son of Curlin was equipped with blinkers for the first time for his last start.

Known Agenda holds the distinction of owning a decision over likely Florida Derby favorite Greatest Honour, whom he defeated by a head while graduating in a 1 1/8-mile maiden special weight race Nov. 8 at Aqueduct.

Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount.

At Gulfstream Park West, Papetu, who finished third in the Fountain of Youth following a very wide trip, breezed five furlongs in 1:12.80 Saturday morning in preparation for the Florida Derby. Sigiloso, a stablemate of Papetu, in the Antonio Sano barn, Siglioso was timed in 1:13.80 for five furlongs for the Florida Derby. Gustavo Delgado-trained Jirafales, who finished fifth in the Fountain of Youth following an awkward start, breezed five furlongs in 1:13.20.

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