Trail to Kentucky Derby: Post positions, draws, odds for Florida and Arkansas prep races

Three-year-old champion Forte will look to solidify his status as the Kentucky Derby favorite in Saturday’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Forte drew the No. 11 post position in a field of 12 for the $1 million, Grade 1 Florida Derby and was made the 4-5 favorite in the morning line. Post time is set for 6:40 p.m. Saturday.

The Florida Derby will offer 200 qualifying points toward the May 6 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, with 100 going to the winner.

Forte has won five of his six career starts, including last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. A son of Violence, Forte made his 3-year-old debut March 4 with a 4 ½-length victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream.

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“The Fountain of Youth couldn’t have gone any better for us,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “The race unfolded almost exactly the way we thought it would, and we were in exactly the position we hoped we would be. The real key is when called upon, he was there.”

Pletcher has won the Florida Derby a record six times, most recently with Known Agenda in 2021. Forte already has 90 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby, more than enough to qualify for the race. But Pletcher isn’t overlooking the importance of the Florida Derby.

“We love the positioning of the Florida Derby five weeks out,” Pletcher said. “We’re happy about that. It gives us a little more time to stay in Florida before we ship north and hopefully have a couple more weeks of good weather before we need to move up.

“The Florida Derby on its own is a very important race. Historically, it’s been a stallion-making race and an important Grade 1 on any horse’s resume.”

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The top four Florida Derby contenders, according to the morning line, drew the four outside spots in the gate.

Second choice Fort Bragg (5-1 odds) originally was slated to run in Sunday’s Sunland Derby before trainer Tim Yakteen called an audible. Fort Bragg, a son of Tapit, enters off a fifth-place showing in the Grade 2 San Felipe on March 4 at Santa Anita.

Dubyuhnell (6-1 odds) drew the No. 12 post for trainer Danny Gargan. A son of Good Magic, Dubyuhnell most recently was eighth in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis on Feb. 11 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Trained by Dale Romans, Cyclone Mischief (8-1 odds) was third behind Forte and Rocket Can in the Fountain of Youth. Mage (10-1 odds), trained by Gustavo Delgado, finished fourth in the Fountain of Youth.

Post time: 6:40 p.m. EDT Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. Purse: $1 million. Grade: 1. Distance: 1 1/8 miles. TV: CNBC. Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100 for first place, 40 for second place, 30 for third place, 20 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place.

PP Horse, jockey, trainer, odds

1. Jungfrau, Paco Lopez, Bill Mott, 20-1

2. West Coast Cowboy, Sonny Leon, Saffie Joseph Jr., 20-1

3. Shaq Diesel, Miguel Vasquez, Renaldo Richards, 30-1

4. Mage, Luis Saez, Gustavo Delgado, 10-1

5. Mr. Peeks, Edwin Gonzalez, Saffie Joseph Jr., 30-1

6. Nautical Star, Leonel Reyes, Saffie Joseph Jr., 30-1

7. Il Miracolo, Jesus Rios, Antonio Sano, 30-1

8. Mr. Ripple, Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr., 30-1

9. Cyclone Mischief, Javier Castellano, Dale Romans, 8-1

10. Fort Bragg, Joel Rosario, Tim Yakteen, 5-1

11. Forte, Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher, 4-5

12. Dubyuhnell, Jose Ortiz, Danny Gargan, 6-1

Reincarnate leads Arkansas Derby field

Reincarnate was tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $1.25 million, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park.

Trained by Tim Yakteen, Reincarnate has a 2-3-1 record in six career starts. The Good Magic colt most recently finished third in the Grade 2 Rebel on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn.

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Reincarnate and jockey John Velazquez drew the No. 8 post in a field of 11 for the Arkansas Derby. Post time is set for 7:40 p.m. EDT Saturday.

The Arkansas Derby will offer 200 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby, with 100 going to the winner.

Other top contenders include Red Route One (3-1 odds), Rocket Can (4-1) and Angel of Empire (9-2).

Red Route One, trained by Steve Asmussen, finished second in the Rebel. Rocket Can, trained by Bill Mott, was second behind Forte in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. Angel of Empire, trained by Brad Cox, won the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds.

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Post time: 7:40 p.m. EDT Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark. Purse: $1.25 million. Grade: 1. Distance: 1 1/8 miles. TV: Fox Sports 2. Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100 for first place, 40 for second place, 30 for third place, 20 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place.

PP Horse, jockey, trainer, odds

1. Bourbon Bash, Reylu Gutierrez, D. Wayne Lukas, 15-1

2. Interlock Empire, David Cabrera, Kenny McPeek, 20-1

3. Harlocap, Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 15-1

4. Two Eagles River, Nik Juarez, Chris Hartman, 10-1

5. Airtime, Cristian Torres, Robertino Diodoro, 15-1

6. Angel of Empire, Flavien Prat, Brad Cox, 9-2

7. Rocket Can, Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 4-1

8. Reincarnate, John Velazquez, Tim Yakteen, 5-2

9. King Russell, Rafael Bejarano, Ron Moquett, 30-1

10. Red Route One, Tyler Gaffalione, Steve Asmussen, 3-1

11. Kolomio, James Graham, Keith Desormeaux, 30-1

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Derby 2023: Arkansas Derby, Florida Derby odds, post positions