Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) was reported in fine shape Sunday morning, a day after thrusting himself into the GI Kentucky Derby picture with a commanding five-length victory in the GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
“He's excellent,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “It seemed like he recuperated quickly after the race, cooled out good, looked good this morning, settled back here into Palm Beach Downs and all is well. He seems to be in excellent form. I was really pleased with the way he came back to the winner's circle. It just seemed like he recovered quickly from the race and cooled out quickly and was bright and alert and happy back in his stall. Initially he's showing us all the signs you're hoping for.”
Pletcher, who has now won three of the past four runnings of the Florida Derby, was not surprised by his charge's victory in his stakes debut Saturday.
“It was what we felt like he was capable of doing based on the way he had been training, but you're always pleased to see him deliver the type of performance you're hoping for,” Pletcher said. “He certainly did that, and then some.”
Of his plans leading up to the May 6 Kentucky Derby, Pletcher commented, “I've got to kind of map out a schedule in terms of when we'll ship to Churchill. We'll look to have a breeze or possibly two breezes at Churchill, but we'll kind of play it by ear and see what the shipping arrangements look like and see what the weather's doing in Kentucky and take all those into consideration.”
Also taking aim on the Kentucky Derby is Florida Derby runner-up State of Honor (To Honor and Serve).
“The winner was very impressive,” Mark Casse, trainer of the runner-up, admitted. “Was there anything we could have done to change the outcome? No. I think if he had settled a little better…you know, he's still learning to settle, which we're trying to achieve. I think he did that in the middle of the race, he didn't do it early. He was probably a little bit intimidated down inside, turning for home, where [Always Dreaming] kind of got first kick on him, where we had to play catch-up. I was actually, after watching the replay, more impressed with his performance than initially. He's a very consistent horse and ran well, so I think he deserves a shot. The owners are excited, we're excited, and he's going to Kentucky.”
The Conrad Farms homebred was also second in the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby and third in the GIII Sam F. Davis S.
Trainer Antonio Sano reported Gunnevera (Dialed In), third as the Florida Derby favorite, exited the race well and will also be heading to Louisville.
“Gunnevera is very good, very good,” Sano said. “He was checked by the vet, and everything is very good. I'm very happy with my horse. Considering everything, it was a good race for my horse.”
Sano said Gunnevera is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Apr. 22 and he expects the colt to breeze Apr. 29.
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