Hofburg ‘proved a lot'; on to Kentucky Derby 2018?

Seconds after jockey John Velazquez asked Audible to make a move through the turn Saturday at Gulfstream Park, Jose Ortiz did the same on board Hofburg. The eventual runner-up chased the winner through the second half of the race, the gap never really widening.

Of course, Audible entered the Grade 1 Florida Derby already a stakes winner. Hofburg had only just broken his maiden March 3.

Now, both horses could be on to the 2018 Kentucky Derby.

“Perfect trip — he did it like a champ,” Ortiz said of Hofburg. “He proved a lot today and got beat by a good horse. I followed Audible the whole way, good trip and he behaved like a champ. I’m really happy with how he’s progressing. I think he’s a really nice horse.”

Trainer Bill Mott surprised when he threw the Juddmonte Farms homebred into the Florida Derby fray. It’s not like the Hall of Famer to make such a move -- indicating he had a strong chance -- and horse players in turn bet Hofburg down to 8.6-1.

“We’ve certainly got to think about that,” Mott said of the Kentucky Derby. “He ran well enough and galloped out good enough. I guess we’ve got to take everything into consideration but we’re certainly not going to rule anything out at this point.”

A son of Tapit, out of the Touch Gold mare Soothing Touch, Hofburg made just his third start Saturday. He debuted last September at Saratoga, received time off and then returned to break his maiden while overcoming a wide trip at 1 1/16 miles. Soothing Touch also produced Mott-trained Emollient, a winner of four Grade 1 races from 2012 to 2014.

Hofburg hit the wire three lengths behind Audible in the Florida Derby.

“I think we’re all pleased,” Mott said. “Naturally, winning would have been the only thing that would have been better, but he ran well and he galloped out well. He took a lot of dirt and he was very professional. He did everything right. He was much more seasoned today when he came down here and was in the post parade and everything.

“He seemed to be more at home. We had him down here for a few days. He was here since Wednesday so he had an opportunity to train her and school in the gate. He was much better. He was the perfect gentleman and a professional today.”