Etch
Constitution’s name into the honor roll of winning Florida Derby Champions. The winner of the 66th
edition of the Florida Derby cut the corner on the far turn and came up the
rail to surprise Wildcat
Red in the final jump. Wildcat Red who
was slightly rank early, slowed the pace down early, getting the first quarter
in a sensible :24 flat. General A Rod lurked
in second place, while Constitution,
who was also rank early while being restrained, settled into third. Coming around the far turn, Javier Castellano cut the corner, taking advantage of General A Rod
as that one drifted out three wide.
Wildcat Red also drifted slightly, giving Constitution a straight shot
up the rail. The tough Wildcat Red fought back but was edged by a neck at the
wire. Race favorite Cairo Prince
tracked from fifth place, went four wide on the turn and was never a factor. He
finished fourth, 3½ lengths behind Constitution.
The race
fractions were :24, :48.19, 1:12, 1:36.46 and the final time for 1 1/8 miles
over the fast track was 1:49.16.
The Florida
Derby Champ earned a whopping 100 points to win. Wildcat Red the second place finisher was awarded 40
points, with third place General A Rod getting
20, and Cairo Prince 10 points for fourth.
Constitution
is owned by WinStar Farm LLC and Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC.
WinStar
Farm Racing Manager Elliott Walden had this to say about Constitution, “He had
some sore shins at Saratoga last year (as a two year old). He was going to run
at the end of the meet, but we had to wait. When asked about the “Kentucky Derby curse”
that no horse that only one horse that hasn’t raced at two won the Kentucky
Derby, Walden commented, “I think it’s going to happen in the next five years. The way people are managing their horses now
and the way the points system sets up. Bodemeister almost did it. It’s just
matter of time. It’s a challenge but I’d
rather have a horse coming into it (the Derby) three for three than a horse
that ran five times at two and is off form.
I feel very good about this colt, I think he’s done things that are
remarkable. His allowance race was a legitimate
stake (race), the quality. For him to come back and do this was remarkable."
Trainer
Todd Pletcher stated, “It gives you confidence moving forward, knowing he got
some education and got some dirt in his face.”
Castellano
was impressed with Constitution after the colt’s first start. “I think the horse
is learning little by little and he has a great future.’
Constitution
paid $8.60 for the win, Wildcat Red $4.80 and General A Rod returned
$3.40.
