HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. — The first 6 furlongs were mere posturing. Once Quality Road and Dunkirk were side by side, that’s when the Florida Derby really began.
That’s also when Quality Road announced himself as a serious Kentucky Derby contender.
Pulling away in the stretch, Quality Road held off previously unbeaten Dunkirk on Saturday to win the Grade 1 race at Gulfstream Park, giving the colt his second graded stakes win in as many starts.
Next up: The Run for the Roses, where Quality Road will surely be one of the top choices at Churchill Downs on May 2.
“It’s a lot of pressure,” said trainer Jimmy Jerkens, who’s taking a horse from his barn into racing’s most famed race for the first time. “But you know, it’s good to be in that position.”
It sure beats the alternative.
Quality Road paid $4.40, $2.40 and $2.10, and finished in a track-record 1:47.72 over 9 furlongs. Dunkirk, who needed a win to clinch a spot in the Kentucky Derby field, was second by nearly two lengths and paid $2.40 and $2.10. Theregoesjojo was third, paying $2.10.
Due respect to Theregoesjojo, it was expected to be a two-horse race — and lived up to that billing.
Quality Road settled in near the lead, as Dunkirk loomed about seven lengths back. With about 3 furlongs remaining, jockey Garrett Gomez gave Dunkirk the signal to go — and got an immediate response, as his horse made a sweeping move and got to the front.
Whether Dunkirk ever actually took the lead around the second turn, no one was certain. Jerkens said he did. His jockey, John Velazquez, said he didn’t.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter. By the end, there was no question who was leading.
“I’ve got to give it to my horse,” said Velazquez, who has now won three of his four career starts. “As soon as I asked him, he went for me, he responded and he went away. Definitely a great feeling.”
Well Armed wins
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Well Armed ran away with the $6 million Dubai World Cup and claimed the richest prize in horse racing in an upset that left the favorites deep in the pack.
The 14-length victory — nearly double the record Dubai World Cup margin set last year by Curlin — was so comfortable that jockey Aaron Gryder patted the 6-year-old gelding’s neck 10 strides before the finish.
“This horse really showed everyone in the world how good he is,” Gryder said, then asked: “Who was second?”
Brazil-bred Gloria de Campeao was the distant runner-up, with Saudi-owned Paris Perfect third.
Earlier, the Dubai ruler appeared to expand his Kentucky Derby options with the “surprise” win of Regal Ransom in a 1-2 finish for his Godolphin Racing stables. Favorite Desert Party was second.
Alysheba dies at age 25
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Alysheba, winner of the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and 1988 horse of the year, has died. The champion stallion was 25.
Dubbed “America’s Horse” by racing fans, Alysheba was euthanized Friday night following a fall in his stall at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions, where he was buried Saturday.
The son of racing legend Alydar retired as horse racing’s all-time money winner with more than $6.6 million in earnings from 11 victories in 26 lifetime starts.
The Associated Press
