Audible (Into Mischief) heads into Saturday's GI Xpressbet Florida Derby with a full head of steam following a 5 1/2-length tour-de-force victory while making his two-turn debut in the GII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3.
The 9-5 morning-line favorite, trained by Todd Pletcher, will break on the outside from post eight with John Velazquez in the saddle. The New York-bred has won his last three starts.
The Florida Derby has produced three out of the last five GI Kentucky Derby winners-Orb (Malibu Moon) (2013), Nyquist (Uncle Mo) (2016) and Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) (2017).
“What he has that, over the years, has proven successful is enough tactical speed to put him in position. What was most impressive in the Holy Bull is how he kicked on after prompting solid fractions,” said Pletcher, who has saddled Florida Derby winners Materiality (2015), Constitution (2014) and Scat Daddy (2007), as well as the aforementioned Always Dreaming. “He was able to find another gear.”
Pletcher continued, “The way he finished at a mile and a sixteenth you wouldn't think a mile and an eighth would be an issue. He still has to go out and do it. If he can duplicate that performance it shouldn't be a problem.”
Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and 'TDN Rising Star' Strike Power (Speightstown), one-two around the track in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. here Mar. 3, square off again. The former, third in a very key renewal of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Nov. 25, lit up the tote board at 18-1 last time.
“He's just fast and he has great stamina to keep going,” trainer Dale Romans said. “I wouldn't want to be someone trying to hook him. He can rate, but it's not a matter of rating. He's going to go to the lead. We're not changing anything now.”
The rail-drawn Strike Power was perfect in two prior trips to the post around one turn, headed by a sharp score in the GIII Swale S. in Hallandale Feb. 3.
“It was a natural progression going from seven-eighths to a mile and a sixteenth. I thought he handled it well,” trainer Mark Hennig said. “The main thing I didn't want him to do was to get caught up in a speed duel and I thought he settled well. He settles well when you're trying to work with him. I don't know about rating in this spot. We'll see how he breaks and see what happens.”
Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), an impressive winner of last fall's GII Remsen S. at the Big A while making his first start on dirt, kicked off his sophomore campaign with a runner-up finish in Tampa's GIII Sam F. Davis S. Feb. 10.
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