In an unusual frame full of fans who packed the stands of Gulfstream Park, another edition of the famous Florida Derby was held last Saturday.
The maximum qualifying event brought together eleven steeds of the 2016 generation, who came out in search of fame, money and a ticket to the Kentucky Derby.
The hope of seeing the resurgence of Hidden Scroll with the change of rider, was a guajiro dream that never crystallized, because the retinto was lost in the middle of the group and could never threaten the first positions in a disappointing effort for their aspirations and for the thousands of followers who relied on the extremities of Hard Spun’s son. The future of William Mott’s student is more uncertain than the closure of the border in northern Mexico.
From the game Maximus Security made it clear that everyone was going to submit to their conditions and imposed a very comfortable step up to 1200 meters, then the pressure increased the red and pressed the stride to achieve a lead of 4 long and placed as one of the main contenders for victory on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs. The Panamanian Luis Sáez, accepted the mounts of the pupil of Jason Servis, without thinking that suddenly he installed himself as one of the favorites for the great race.
At that time Luis Sáez was placed to three victories of the Puerto Rican Irad Ortiz, with a role to play and as expected yesterday there was a tie in the statistics with the third victory of the afternoon for Luis, however Irad responded in the following event and put the advantage win that served to crown him as the winner of this “Meet Of Champions”.
Speaking of riders, the Mexican Víctor Espinoza visited the winner’s circle on Saturday in Santa Anita to win the San Carlos, this is news after the Mexican whip has returned, with renewed vigor, from his delicate injury.
Now we must get ready for next Saturday to witness the Wood Memorial, which runs in Aqueduct. The Santa Anita Derby, which will be part of the seven fee races to be held in Arcadia California and finally the Blue Grass, summit race of the brief, very brief, Keeneland season that will start next Thursday.