One in all Woodford Reserve’s standout prep races on the street to the Kentucky Derby will probably be held at Gulfstream Park, residence of the Grade 1, $1 million Curlin Florida Derby introduced by Hill & Dale Farms in Xalapa.
The winner of that race will earn 100 factors to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, the second-place horse will obtain 50 factors, the third-place horse will obtain 25 factors, the fourth-place horse will obtain 15 factors, and the fifth-place horse will obtain 10 factors.
The race has been held at Gulfstream since its inception in 1952 and has all the time been run on dust over a distance of 1⅛8 miles. It has been a G1 race since 1973. Fifteen Florida Derby winners went on to win the Kentucky Derby with All the time Dreaming in 2017, the latest horse to attain a double crown. Twenty-six horses from the Florida Derby have gained the Kentucky Derby, essentially the most of any prelude, with Sovereignty in 2025 being the latest. Sovereignty constructed on his second place within the Florida Derby with wins within the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes.
However the focus of this function is the winner of the Florida Derby. So let’s have a look again at a few of the biggest winners of this race, which has an extremely wealthy historical past that features a few of horse racing’s true superstars.
Nashua (1955)
Profession data: 30 begins, 22 wins, 4 seconds and third place as soon as
Lifetime earnings: $1,288,565
Nashua was destined for greatness from delivery. This horse was bred and bred by Bel Air Stud, one of many dominant forces in American horse racing on the time. His stallion, Nasrullah, had just lately arrived from Europe, the place he was a high sire and went on to make a huge effect on American bloodlines.
Nashua gained 4 stakes in his first 12 months, together with a game-head victory within the Futurity Stakes, and earned year-end honors as champion 2-year-old colt. His Corridor of Fame coach, “Sonny Jim” Fitzsimmons, despatched him to Florida to start making ready for the Kentucky Derby. He gained the Allowance race at Hialeah Park and later gained the Flamingo Stakes on the identical racetrack. In each instances, he was unable to keep up a straight trajectory within the stretch, inflicting some shock to observers. Many felt that if he crashed into the entrance, he would lose curiosity and will trigger issues sooner or later. Regardless of this, he was despatched off as the favourite to win the Florida Derby with 9 wins and 10 losses. On the day of the race, the observe was tough, posing a brand new problem for the stallions, who had beforehand raced solely on quick tracks.
It wasn’t simple, however Nashua gained. Normally near his early tempo, he began in fifth place, six and a half lengths behind. Approaching the far flip, Eddie Arcaro started calling for runs from Nashua, which Nashua responded to. Throughout this part, he lined up with First Cabin, who had been within the early lead, and overtook his rival simply as he handed pole quantity eight. Blue Rem put up a troublesome problem within the closing levels, however Arcaro held on to his mount and Nashua crossed the end line by a neck.
After successful the Wooden Memorial Stakes, Nashua was the overwhelming favourite on the day of the Kentucky Derby, however he misplaced to Swaps, an up-and-coming California invader, and completed in second place. Nashua went on to win the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Swaps returned to California, the place he dominated the competitors, setting the stage for a match race at Chicago’s Washington Park on August thirty first. Swaps was the large favourite, however Nashua avenged the Kentucky Derby by successful by six and a half lengths. This victory secured his standing because the 1955 Horse of the Yr.
Carry Again (1961)
Profession data: 61 begins, 21 wins, 11 seconds, 11 third place finishes.
Lifetime earnings: $1,241,165
In distinction to Nashua, Carrie Buck got here from a poor background. The horse was a Florida-bred sire of the modest stallion Saggy, and was small in stature, weighing lower than 1,000 kilos.
Carry Again ran in a whopping 21 races as a 2-year-old horse, successful 5 occasions. His greatest win got here within the Backyard State Stakes at Backyard State Park, the best prize cash within the nation on the time. This victory positioned him second within the champion 2-year-old colt voting and established him as a powerful candidate for the Kentucky Derby.
Proprietor Katherine Value and her husband, breeder and coach Jack Value, selected to arrange Carryback for the Kentucky Derby of their residence state. He gained the Everglades and Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah, however then suffered a stunning loss within the Fountain of Youth Stakes. Regardless of that loss, Carry Again was the favourite of the eight runners within the Florida Derby with 8 wins and 5 losses.
As standard, jockey Johnny Sellers held the carry again’s tempo early. He started the rally residence, however was two lengths behind the main Crozier. Sellers demanded every part he had from Carryback, and the courageous stallion responded. He surged to a head victory on a tough observe just like the one the place he gained the Backyard State Stakes.
Along with his Florida Derby victory, Carry Again turned the consensus favourite for the Kentucky Derby. His diminutive stature, quick begins, and dramatic operating fashion made him a fan favourite past betting. Within the Kentucky Derby, he fulfilled his promise of 5 wins and a couple of losses, getting back from far behind to win by half a size.
After successful the Preakness Stakes, he turned the overwhelming favourite to change into the ninth Triple Crown winner. Sadly, he was injured in the course of the race and completed seventh with a 15-length distinction. Carryback returned a number of months later and continued to carry out effectively, successful 3-year-old colt champion honors after which successful main stakes races as a 4-year-old and a 5-year-old.
Northern Dancer (1964)
Complete outcomes: 18 begins, 14 wins, 2 seconds, third place twice
Lifetime earnings: $580,647
Northern Dancer was produced and owned by EP Taylor, a seminal determine in Canadian Thoroughbred racing. Taylor based the Canadian Jockey Membership and the brand new Woodbine racetrack in 1956. Taylor’s Thoroughbred possession additionally included the Windfields Farm breeding operation. There he produced Northern Dancer, a son of 1958 Canadian Horse of the Yr Nearctic.
Northern Dancer gained three stakes north of the border as a two-year-old horse, dominating his Canadian counterpart. He was transported to New York close to the tip of 1963 and gained the Remsen Stakes by two lengths.
Northern Dancer, who was despatched to Florida for his 3-year-old season, gained the Flamingo Stakes by two lengths regardless of being pushed all the way in which by jockey Invoice Shoemaker. With this victory and subsequent allowance wins, Northern Dancer turned the favourite within the eight-horse Florida Derby with three wins and 10 losses.
Shoemaker gave him an incredible journey, giving a chilly send-off to longshot chief Greek Episode early on. His rival started to fade within the far flip, and Shoemaker gave the sign to offer his rider the lead. Regardless of being affected by The Scandrel for the rest of the race, Northern Dancer held off his rival and completed a horse forward.
Northern Dancer gained the Blue Grass Stakes after which entered the Kentucky Derby with a brand new jockey. Shoemaker jumped out to trip the favored Hill Rise, so Invoice Hartack took over driving Northern Dancer. Northern Dancer defeated Hill Rise by a neck in a dramatic stretch run, setting a brand new stakes and observe file of two:00.
After successful the Preakness, Northern Dancer had an opportunity to win the Triple Crown within the Belmont Stakes, however ended up ending third behind Quadrangle. Though his racing profession ended quickly thereafter, Northern Dancer made his biggest achievements within the breeding shed. He produced a then-record 147 stakes winners, together with champions in each North America and Europe. Nijinsky II, maybe his biggest offspring, gained the British Triple Crown in 1970. He’s also called an incredible sire’s sire, with profitable sires comparable to Nureyev, Lifard, Stormbird, Sadler’s Wells and Danzig.
Aridal (1978)
Profession data: 26 begins, 14 wins, 1 9 second, 1 third place end
Lifetime earnings: $957,195
A tremendous stallion in his personal proper, Alidar had the misfortune of operating into one other champion, Affirmed, all through his two-year-old and three-year-old seasons. The 2 confronted off six occasions in 1977, with Affirmed successful 4 of them. In preparation for his or her respective Kentucky Derby appearances, the 2 traveled to reverse sides of the nation. Whereas Affirmed went to California, coach John Veitch despatched Alydar, owned and produced by blue-blooded Calumet Farms, to Florida.
Aridar’s 3-year-old began effectively with a straightforward win at Hialeah Racecourse, adopted by a cushty four-and-a-half size victory within the Flamingo Stakes. Alidar was the favourite within the Florida Derby with 3 wins and 10 losses in opposition to six horses, together with Imagine It, who defeated Alidar within the Remsen Stakes final fall.
Aridar avenged his loss that afternoon, driving the tempo to win by two lengths in a straight line. His time of 1 minute 47 seconds was the second quickest time in Florida Derby historical past, simply 5 seconds shy of the observe file. Imagine It posed a problem to Alydar within the straight line, however completed in second place, seven and a half lengths behind him.
After an awesome victory within the Bluegrass Stakes, Alidar (11-10 odds) was the favourite to win the Kentucky Derby, forward of Affirmed (9-5). Nevertheless, Affirmed gained by half a size as Alydar, who was far behind within the early levels, got here at him with nice pressure. Alidar then misplaced to Affirmed by a neck within the Preakness Stakes, and had a fierce duel with a well-recognized rival within the Belmont Stakes. Each males continued to combat tenaciously till the tip, however Affirmed gained by a head and clinched the triple crown.
Aridar obtained some revenge within the closing showdown within the Travers Stakes. Affirmed crossed the end line three-quarters of a size forward of him, however was disqualified for interfering with Alidar on the closing nook. Alidar, who missed the rest of his three-year-old 12 months with an damage, returned as a four-year-old, however gained just one stakes race and was retired earlier than he may face Affirmed once more.
Spectacular Bid (1979)
Profession data: 30 begins, 26 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third place
Lifetime earnings: $2,781,608
Spectacular Bid seemed unbeatable on the 1979 Kentucky Derby course. The earlier 12 months, he gained 5 stakes and was named champion 2-year-old stallion. He gained his first two races as a 3-year-old by a mixed margin of 12 1/4 lengths. There was no cause to consider the Florida Derby could be something apart from a layup, and he was despatched off as a 1-20 favourite.
He had a really adventurous journey. First he swerved and crashed into the aspect of the gate. Though he shortly recovered, he was stopped on the first nook and was rushed by jockey Ron Franklin on the backstretch behind the leaders. Slightly than transfer up the order on the skin of the leaders, Franklin tried to ship him out on the rail, however lack of racing room meant he needed to test once more. I then pulled him again and went extensive for 4 as I entered the straight line, the place the Spectacular bid pulled me away for a straightforward win. ‘The Bid’ gained by 4 and a half lengths, however may have gained by extra if he hadn’t run into site visitors.
Bid gained each the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes because the overwhelming favourite, and it appeared sure that he would win the Triple Crown. After one other powerful outing, he flattened out within the Belmont Stakes and completed third. Spectacular Bid, a champion as each a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, had one of the best efficiency as a 4-year-old in an ideal Horse of the Yr marketing campaign with 9 wins in 9 races, together with a world-record efficiency within the Strab Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
Swale (1984)
Complete outcomes: 14 begins, 9 wins, 2 seconds, third place twice
Lifetime earnings: $1,583,660
Legendary coach Woody Stevens appeared to encompass them as they headed to the 1984 Kentucky Derby course. He educated Swale, a formidable black stallion owned and bred by Claiborne Farm. Swale gained 4 main races as a two-year-old horse, three of which have been by one head or much less.
However to everybody, together with his coach, he was dwarfed by that superb satan bag. He had an ideal 5-5 file as a 2-year-old, successful three stakes, highlighted by an astonishing six-length win within the Champagne Stakes. That day, he ran the mile in 1:34.1/5, setting a brand new stakes file. The champion 2-year-old colt Satan’s Bag positioned second within the Horse of the Yr voting and was syndicated for a file $36 million. Stephens thought of Swale a second banana and despatched the 2 colts to Florida with the intention of separating them from one another till the Kentucky Derby.
That winter, the media adored the Satan’s Bag’s each transfer. big apple occasions There was a daily sequence monitoring his progress. Though he achieved a formidable victory in his debut race as a 3-year-old, he completed in a stunning 4th place within the Flamingo S as the favourite with 3 wins and 10 attracts. Regardless of the loss, jockey Stevens continued to downplay Swale, insisting that Satan’s Bag was one of the best three-year-old horse within the nation.
Swale drew little consideration when he gained the Hutchison Handicap by eight lengths 4 days after Flamingo and completed a stunning third within the Fountain of Youth Stakes. Maybe spooked by this loss, bettors handed on him as a 2.70-to-1 second selection for the Florida Derby. Flamingo’s second-place and extremely rated stallion, Dr. Carter, was handed over as the favourite. Jockey Swale has acquired a brand new jockey for the Florida Derby as common rider Eddie Maple has dedicated to trip Satan’s Bag. In his place, Lafitte Pinkay Jr. rode the gifted stallion Claiborne.
Swale bounced again within the Florida Derby. He assessed Fountain of Youth winner Daan the Alarm early and took management down the stretch because the pacesetter light. Dr. Carter additionally ran alongside him, giving him a troublesome stretch problem. It was a dramatic battle between the 2 horses, with Swale gaining the higher hand within the closing levels and successful by half a size in 1:47.35, the quickest Florida Derby time since Alydar.
Satan’s Bag suffered a career-ending damage simply earlier than the Kentucky Derby, and Swale turned Stevens’ greatest hope. He put in a career-best effort on the primary Saturday in Could, successful by three and 1 / 4 lengths in a straight line, giving Stevens his second Derby victory. After a disappointing Preakness Stakes, Swale gained the Belmont Stakes by 4 lengths with a mesmerizing gate-to-wire effort. He ran the primary and second half of the race in the identical time of 1 minute 13 seconds⅖, an unprecedented feat in any race. Sadly, Swale died of a suspected coronary heart assault eight days after his victory at Belmont.
Unbridled (1990)
Complete outcomes: 24 begins, 8 wins, 6 seconds, 6 third place finishes
Lifetime earnings: $4,489,475
Unbridled was in a sophisticated scenario heading into the 1990 Florida Derby. The Florida colt has solely gained one stakes race, most just lately ending third within the traffic-stricken Fountain of Youth Stakes, shedding by a half-length. He appeared to have quite a lot of potential, however his observe file wasn’t fairly there but. Within the 1990 Florida Derby, Unbridled beat the second-place favourite at odds of 5-2 in a extremely publicized race.
Pat Day, who was driving the stallion for the second time, evaluated him as being in the midst of the pack because of his gradual tempo. Heading residence, he handed the favored Roanoke and pulled away for an enormous win by 4 lengths.
After ending third within the Blue Grass Stakes, Unbridled was thought of an outsider for the Kentucky Derby. Bluegrass winner Summer time Squall and Mr. Frisky, who got here from California by the use of Puerto Rico, have been the favorites to win, however Unbridled was ridden by Craig Perrett, who took over on Pat Day heading to Summer time Squall, with a file of 10.80 wins and 1 loss.
Nevertheless, Pele’s horse carried out greatest on Derby day. He approached from mid-pack and made a powerful transfer to take the lead within the flip, shaking off a summer season squall to win by three and a half lengths. It was the primary Derby winner for proprietor Francis Guenter and coach Karl Naftzger.
Late in his 3-year-old season, Unbridled added one other large win to his resume. With Day again within the saddle, he weaved his method by the pack to win the Breeders’ Cup Traditional. He was one in every of 4 horses to win the Derby and Traditional in the identical 12 months.
Holy Bull (1994)
Profession data: 16 begins, 13 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds.
Lifetime earnings: $2,481,760
This speedy grey Florida horse had one thing to show heading into the 1994 Florida Derby. The two-year-old horse “The Bull” had an ideal file of 4 wins and 4 losses, together with defeating the 2-year-old horse Dehere within the Futurity Stakes. Holy Bull began his 3-year-old season with a win within the Hutchison Stakes, however within the Fountain of Youth Stakes he flipped his palate and had hassle respiratory. Consequently, he completed in a superb sixth place.
Out of a subject of 14 Florida Derby horses, Holy Bull was a 2.70-to-1 second favourite behind eventual Kentucky Derby winner Goforgin. Mike Smith despatched Holy Bull out to the entrance with very quick occasions of twenty-two.52 seconds within the first quarter mile and 46.16 seconds within the first half mile. Regardless of the quick tempo, nobody got here near catching Holy Bull as he gained by 5 3/4 lengths. Holy Bull shortly turned the favourite for the Kentucky Derby.
After an equally overwhelming victory within the Blue Grass Stakes, Holy Bull emerged as the favourite to win at 2.20-1. A late break and moist observe meant his possibilities went away, and he completed twelfth. Nevertheless, Holy Bull was unbeatable all through the remainder of the 12 months. He gained 5 consecutive graded stakes, together with the extremely quick Metropolitan Handicap, the extremely gutsy Travers Stakes, and capped off a season by which he was named Eclipse Horse of the Yr with a panoramic five-length victory within the Woodward Stakes.
Large Brown (2008)
Complete outcomes: 8 begins, 7 wins, 0 seconds, 0 third place
Lifetime earnings: $3,614,500
Large Brown stumbled onto the Kentucky Derby path by likelihood. The horse gained his first victory on the Saratoga turf in 2007 and was scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut as a novice on the turf at Gulfstream Park. Climate had different plans and the race was modified to dust because of rain. Coach Rick Dutroux determined to maintain him within the race anyway, and it proved to be a sensible determination. He gained by a landslide by 12 3/4 lengths, and a few have been calling him a powerful Kentucky Derby candidate, despite the fact that he had by no means raced in a stakes race.
Large Brown was examined on the Florida Derby. Regardless of his excessive exterior submit place within the 12-horse subject, he was a preferred horse with three wins and two losses. Kent Desormeaux aggressively despatched him to the entrance, main him to the within by the point he accomplished the primary quarter mile. He by no means relinquished the lead from there, opening as much as the sphere as he exited flip two. With minimal momentum, Large Brown crossed the end line 5 horse lengths in entrance, silencing any doubters and establishing himself because the clear Kentucky Derby favourite.
At Churchill Downs, Large Brown as soon as once more drew the skin submit in a 20-horse subject and needed to race somewhat off the lead. Regardless of these obstacles, he pulled away and gained by 4 3/4 lengths. After an equally overwhelming victory on the Preakness Stakes, it appeared sure that he would win the Triple Crown, however he relaxed after the large transfer and didn’t end the race.
Nyquist (2016)
Complete outcomes: 11 begins, 8 wins, 0 seconds, third place as soon as
Lifetime earnings: $5,189,200
Proprietor Paul Redham, coach Doug O’Neill and jockey Mario Gutierrez teamed as much as win the Kentucky Derby with I am going to Have One other in 2012. A couple of years later, it seemed like they’d one other critical Derby contender, as Nyquist was named the 2015 Champion 2-Yr-Previous colt after an undefeated season by which he gained 4 stakes races.
After beginning his 3-year-old season within the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park, O’Neill elected to ship him east to run within the Florida Derby. Regardless of its stellar status, Nyquist was not a favourite. Mohaimen, who gained the Fountain of Youth Stakes, was the favourite with 4 wins and 5 losses, and Nyquist was second with 6 wins and 5 losses.
Nyquist silenced all doubts within the Florida Derby. Gutierrez shortly took the lead regardless of going through tempo strain from two lengthy photographs. Nyquist fought off his challengers and gained by three and 1 / 4 lengths, however Mohaimen struggled to complete fourth.
5 weeks later, Nyquist made historical past by successful the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/4 lengths. Within the course of, he turned the primary horse since Road Sense in 2007 to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby.
White Avario (2022)
Profession data: 25 begins – 10 wins, 3 seconds, 3 innings
Profession earnings: $7,713,920
White Avario confirmed his potential in his two-year-old season and started his profession with back-to-back wins, operating wild with a six-and-three-quarter size lead in his profession debut and main from begin to end with a four-length lead in his second begin. He capped off his younger season by ending third within the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Membership Stakes, his first stakes try for coach Safi Joseph Jr.
By race day, the grey or roan colt had made his first begin as a 3-year-old within the Holy Bull Stakes and was authoritatively declared for the 2022 Kentucky Derby. He opened up a commanding lead within the straight line below new jockey Tyler Gaffalione, successful by 4 and a half lengths at odds of 6-1.
White Avario simply gained the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby hosted by Hill and Dale Farm at Xalapa by 1 1/4 lengths, making him one of many favorites for the Kentucky Derby introduced by Woodford Reserve. Nevertheless, on Could 7, 2022, Wealthy Strike shocked the world with odds of 80.80 to 1, whereas White Avario was not an enormous issue and completed in sixteenth place.th Out of 20.
White Avario was winless in 2022, ending second within the Grade 2 Ohio Derby and third within the NYRA Betts Cigar Mile Handicap by a half-length, however he regained his elite type as a 4-year-old in 2023 after being transferred to coach Rick Dutlow Jr. White Avario gained the G1 Whitney Stakes by six lengths in August after which gained the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Traditional by one size, successful three out of 5 races and changing into a finalist for Horse of the Yr. White Avario remained in coaching in 2024, successful just one allowance race out of 4 begins, however returned to the care of coach Safi Joseph Jr. and started to regain high type close to the tip of the season. White Avario then opened his 2025 6-year-old season with a record-setting victory within the $2,945,400 G1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes by six and 1 / 4 lengths. On January twenty fifth, he gained the Ghost Zapper Stakes sponsored by FanDuel TV at Gulfstream Park. In 2026, White Avario goals for a consecutive victory on the Pegasus World Cup and takes second place.
