Florida Derby: Jimmy's Dailys gets 2nd try at 2 turns

After seeing the light go on in Owen Almighty’s second try around two turns, trainer Brian Lynch is hoping for a similar type of response from stablemate Jimmy’s Dailys in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby.

The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby is a qualifying race for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, offering 100-50-25-15-10 points to the top five finishers.

Jimmy’s Dailys will be making his fifth career start and his stakes debut in the Florida Derby, coming off a runner-up finish to undefeated Grande in a 1 1/16-mile optional-claiming allowance Feb. 27 at Gulfstream. He was ridden that day by Irad Ortiz Jr., who is committed on Disruptor for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the Florida Derby.

“He hung the whole way down the backside and he was on rein, and Irad felt like if he could have steered him it could have been a little bit different,” Lynch said of the most recent run. “Hopefully we’ve ironed that kink out. He’s training really good, so we’re excited about running him.”

Jimmy’s Dailys is by Vekoma, a Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs and a mile who was third in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream and second in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G2) in 2019. Earlier this month, Owen Almighty was a front-running 3 1/2-length winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) after having run second by a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis, his first race beyond one mile.

“I think as good as Owen Almighty ran in his second time around two turns, this horse is going to show the same sort of things,” Lynch said. “It’s his second go around two turns, he knows what he’s doing now, (and) he’s a lot fitter for it. We’ll find out what class level he’s at now, whether he can run with these horses and whether we’ve got our (Kentucky) Derby contender.”

Hall of Famer Joel Rosario is named on Jimmy’s Dailys from Post 6 in a field of 10. They are rated at 12-1 on the morning line.

Jimmy’s Dailys is a homebred of Donald Dizney, who is synonymous with Florida racing as past president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association and owner of Double Diamond Farm near Ocala. His best horses have included Grade 1 winner First Dude, runner-up in the 2010 Preakness; 2013 Smile Sprint (G3) winner Bahamian Squall, 2011 Mr. Prospector (G3) winner Apriority and 1996 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G1) winner Wekiva Springs.

“I’ve had a few for him over the years,” Lynch said. “I know they’re very excited, as I am, and he seems like a nice little horse to do it with, too.”