Florida Derby

HALLANDALE, Fla. - Bobby Frankel might be the top trainer in this country, but he's one lousy handicapper. The day before the Florida Derby, contested yesterday at Gulfstream Park, Frankel said that Empire Maker, his promising horse, couldn't beat Trust N Luck, his main rival in the $1 million race. "Me as a handicapper," Frankel said, "if I had to bet, I'd tap out on Trust N Luck." If Frankel had bet, then he would be one destitute gambler, because Empire Maker not only devoured Trust N Luck, but he also romped to the biggest winning margin in Florida Derby history.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Adore the Gold is ready to be adored. Trainer Michael Gorham said the 3-year-old Kentucky-bred sired by Formal Gold is ready to take on the favorites one more time today in the Grade I, $1 million Florida Derby. Gorham's colt faced Scat Daddy, Stormello and Nobiz Like Shobiz in the Fountain of Youth Stakes earlier this month and was beaten by just one length, despite an outside post and a tiring trip. "I think he'll run big," said Gorham, who keeps a dozen horses at Laurel Park and is a familiar name to Maryland horsemen.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Papi Chullo nestles his pretty head against the chest of his owner, Greg Norman. The colt closes his eyes as if to doze off. Norman smiles. A resident of California, Norman, 45 - not the famous golfer - bought his first thoroughbred 10 years ago. Papi Chullo is his 15th or 16th - he's not sure which - and make no mistake: The silver-gray, docile colt is the star of Norman's stable. If Papi Chullo does something today that he's never done before, then he would become the star of the 2005 Florida Derby and a legitimate contender for the Kentucky Derby.

No one can say with any real certainty whether or not Uncle Mo will be in the starting gate on Saturday when the Kentucky Derby is run for the 137th time at Churchill Downs. He's still battling a gastrointestinal infection that could result in a scratch right up until post time. But even if he does run, there is a good chance he won't be the favorite. For now, that honor goes to Dialed In, the horse Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia picked as the 4-1 morning line favorite on Wednesday after the Nick Zito-trained colt drew the favorable eighth stall in the Derby post position draw.

Animal, plan it Neil Milbert Chicago Tribune Granted, Animal Kingdom outran a relatively weak field when he made his dirt racing debut and won the Kentucky Derby as a 20-1 long shot. Going into the Derby with six weeks of rest, he proved to be the best and raced the final quarter in a razor-sharp 24.55 seconds. All of that suggests the well-bred colt is capable of a comparable performance at Pimlico — where he will be facing an even weaker field than the one he dominated at Churchill Downs.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Mine That Bird spent the week tucked away in the Kentucky Derby Museum, not far from the track at Churchill Downs and the throngs wondering who will win the 139th run for the roses. The 2009 Derby winner seems to enjoy when fans stop in for a visit. A gelding who retired from racing in 2010, he appears at ease. And even as rail birds and once-a-year track goers alike fall for impressive looking favorites, Mine That Bird reminds them that their hunch is actually a guess.

HALLANDALE, Fla. -- In baseball, it's batting practice. In football and basketball, it's the scrimmage. In horse racing, it's the prep race. Don't confuse the preparation with the main event. On the first major weekend of the year on the road to the Kentucky Derby, 13 horses will compete today in the $1 million Florida Derby here at Gulfstream Park. Nine horses will square off tomorrow in the $750,000 Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans. Those races offer money and prestige for a horse early in his 3-year-old season.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Just eight weeks ago, after a gut-wrenching victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, Klaravich Stable's Read the Footnotes was all the rage. The colt had won three consecutive graded races and was on top or close to the top on everyone's Kentucky Derby list. But when he took to the track Thursday morning at Palm Meadows in Boynton Beach for one of his last major works before the May 1 Derby, there was little interest, with only four people in the clocker's stand.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - With the top three contenders nursing injuries or illness, the Florida Derby appeared likely to attract a mere handful of horses. But yesterday, after two of the big three dropped out, the field swelled to nine as trainers looked to take advantage of the dearth of established talent in one of the marquee races leading to the Kentucky Derby. The $1 million Florida Derby will take place Saturday at Gulfstream Park here in South Florida. Nick Zito, who trains the top two entrants, said he understands the rush to the entry box. "I don't blame those guys for being in there," Zito said.

HALLANDALE, Fla. After his convincing victory in Saturday's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, Unbridled's Song will run next in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on April 13 and the Florida Derby also-rans will run elsewhere.No one seems anxious to tackle the gray, almost black, son of Unbridled again anytime soon, at least not before the Kentucky Derby on May 4."He's the real deal," his trainer, Jim Ryerson, said yesterday, the morning after Unbridled's Song demolished what was touted as the deepest Florida Derby field in decades.