Florida Derby

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Sensational allowance winner DUNKIRK (Unbridled's Song) and Fountain of Youth

S. (G2) romper QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) led a field of nine in Saturday's

$750,000 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. We backed the latter in his

latest race and he didn't disappoint, so we see no reason not to side with him

again for Jimmy Jerkens. The lightly raced sophomore began his career with a

superb maiden score in New York and returned to run a troubled second in an

allowance test in his three-year-old debut, prior to his coming out party in the

Fountain of Youth. He has a big tactical edge on his main counterparts in here,

and while we don't like it when this one draws near the rail, we still feel that he

will have the goods to come through in his two-turn debut beneath John

Velazquez.

Dunkirk didn't make his debut until late January of this year, but what the

blue blood lacks in seasoning he makes up for in talent. Conditioned by Todd

Pletcher, the gray colt earned a 107 BRIS Speed number for his recent allowance

win over this strip, enduring an especially wide trip before pulling away late

like a serious horse beneath Garrett Gomez, who flew into Florida to ride. The

Kentucky-bred has arguably as much upside as any sophomore in training, and a

repeat of his last makes him an obvious threat.

THEREGOESJOJO (Brahms) put in a spirited rally to finish second in the

Fountain of Youth for Ken McPeek, and the talented colt defeated our top pick

two prior. The bay has improved his BRIS Speed figures in each start this year and

appears to be a logical upset pick to upend the top pair. Kent Desormeaux has

the call.

SINCERO (Repent) outran his odds when third behind Dunkirk last time and will receive blinkers for this test. The Manny Azpurua pupil drilled a

bullet five-eighths in advance of this and has useful tactical speed to begin

with, so if he moves up even a little he'll be a big exotics threat at a square

price.

DANGER TO SOCIETY (Harlan's Holiday) flopped as the favorite in the Holy Bull

S. (G3) earlier in the meet and has since been moved to the barn of Richard

Dutrow. The smart sophomore was all the rage when posting an impressive

allowance tally in his debut over this oval and he clearly has ability, but the

top two in here have hinted that they are as good as it gets and this bay might

be a cut below at this stage of the game.

EUROPE (Unbridled's Song), fourth when making his career debut in a maiden event

last out for Pletcher, has been

entered to ensure that a lively pace exists for his stable mate. A $2.6 million

yearling purchase, the well-bred gray has kept excellent company in the mornings

and could turn out to be a nice one, but the maiden can't be considered a

serious contender in

this one.

TOBY THE COAL MAN (Mineshaft) has moved up nicely in his last pair with

blinkers removed for Nick Zito, including a gritty maiden victory most recently.

We can envision this one progressing into a useful competitor in time, but this appears

to be too much. STATELY CHARACTER (Pleasant Tap) has run four times at this meeting without a

win, and we'll let him beat us from the outside post. CASEY'S ON CALL (Gimmeawink) won a six-furlong test over this strip two prior

against claiming foes, and we can't see him being anything more than a pace

presence.