What Kentucky Derby horses have run at Gulfstream Park? Florida ties for each 2024 horse
You can always count on Florida to have an impact on the Kentucky Derby. The 150th Run for the Roses is no different.
The 2024 Kentucky Derby will feature two horses who went through the Ocala Breeders' Sales, as well as a handful of trainers, owner and jockeys from the Sunshine State. Four of the horses, including odds-on favorite Fierceness, had their last race at either the Florida Derby in Hallandale Beach or the Tampa Bay Derby in Oldsmar.
Here's a look at Florida's ties to the horses running Saturday, May 4 in the Kentucky Derby:
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1. Dornoch
Odds: 20-1
Florida ties: Was trained early by Raul Reyes at King's Equine in Ocala, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. He is the full brother of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage.
2. Sierra Leone
Odds: 3-1
Florida ties: Trains at Payson Park Thoroughbred Training Center in Indiantown, rated as one of the best dirt tracks in the U.S., according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. Sierra Leone had his early training at Scanlon Training and Sales at Oak Ridge Training Center near Ocala. His jockey is Tyler Gaffalione, born in Davie, Florida.
3. Mystik Dan
Odds: 20-1
Florida ties: Had early schooling at Silverleaf Hills Training Center in Ocala, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
4. Catching Freedom
Odds: 8-1
Florida ties: Started and trained at Abracadabra Farms in Ocala, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
5. Catalytic
Odds: 30-1
Florida ties: Catalytic enters the Kentucky Derby off a runner-up finish in the Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. Catalytic won his debut at Gulfstream Park on October 7. His trainer is Saffie Joseph Jr., who runs horses year-round at Gulfstream Park. He is owned by three natives of the Ocala area: Tami Bobo, a founding member of Horse Farms Forever and owner of First Finds; George Isaacs, general manager of Bridlewood Farms and president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association board of directors; and Julie Davies, who provided key early training for Catalytic, according to the FTBOA.
6. Just Steel
Odds: 20-1
Florida ties: None. Just Steel was bred in Kentucky. His sire is Justify, who won the Triple Crown in 2018.
7. Honor Marie
Odds: 20-1
Florida ties: None. Honor Marie was bred in Kentucky.
8. Just a Touch
Odds: 10-1
Florida ties: Bought at the Ocala Breeders' Spring Sales of 2-year-olds in Training in April 2023 for $3,000. Just a Touch's sire is Justify, who won the Triple Crown in 2018.
10. T O Password
Odds: 30-1
Florida ties: None. T O Password was bred in Japan.
11. Forever Young
Odds: 10-1
Florida ties: His dam, Forever Darling, is by Congrats, who is pensioned at Persaud Legacy Farms in Marion County, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
12. Track Phantom
Odds: 20-1
Florida ties: One of Track Phantom's owners is Mike Hall's Breeze Easy LLC. Hall is on the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owner's Association board of directors, and he owns a farm in Ocala.
13. West Saratoga
Odds: 50-1
Florida ties: None. West Saratoga was bred in Kentucky.
14. Endlessly
Odds: 30-1
Florida ties: Broke and prepped at Abracadabra Farms in Ocala, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
15. Domestic Product
Odds: 30-1
Florida ties: Domestic Product enters the Kentucky Derby off a win in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar. He trained at Payson Park Thoroughbred Training Center in Indiantown, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
16. Grand Mo the First
Odds: 50-1
Florida ties: Bought at the Ocala Breeders' sale of 2-year-olds in training in March 2023 for $335,000, but did not sell. Grand Mo the First enters the Kentucky Derby coming off a third-place finish in the Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. His trainer is Victor Barboza Jr. and his jockey is Emisael Jamarillo, both Venezuelan natives based in Hallandale Beach. Grand Mo the First was schooled by Keifer Rengifo at Golden Rock Thoroughbreds in Citra, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
17. Fierceness
Odds: 5-2
Florida ties: Fierceness enters the Kentucky Derby coming off a win in the Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach. Trainer Todd Pletcher's father, JJ Pletcher, has a training center in Ocala, and his mother, Joan Pletcher, sells high-end horse farms, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. Fierceness received early training at Ocala Stud Farm, the oldest thoroughbred farm in Florida.
18. Stronghold
Odds: 20-1
Florida ties: None. Stronghold was homebred in Kentucky.
19. Resilience
Odds: 20-1
Florida ties: Trains at Payson Park Thoroughbred Training Center in Indiantown, rated as one of the best dirt tracks in the U.S., according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association. His jockey is Junior Alvarado, a native of Venezuela who moved to South Florida in 2007 and won his first American race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach before moving to Chicago and then Saratoga.
20. Society Man
Odds: 50-1
Florida ties: Trained by Grade One Investments at Two Springs Farms in Micanopy, according to the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
21. Epic Ride
Odds: 30-1
Florida ties: None. Epic Ride was bred in Kentucky.
Encino got the No. 9 post but was scratched from the Kentucky Derby on Tuesday.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Kentucky Derby horses 2024 with Florida ties, Ocala Breeders Sales