Promises Fulfilled on to Kentucky Derby after Florida Derby flop
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Photo:
JonathanLintner
Robby Albarado returned a frustrated jockey after Saturday's Grade 1, $1.1 million Florida Derby, saying, "It’s crazy because our strategy has been documented and publicized, that we’re going to the front at all costs."
But that didn't stop a pace battle from forming early in the 2018 Kentucky Derby prep.
Strike Power, from the inside post, challenged Albarado's Promises Fulfilled through an opening quarter mile of 21.95 seconds that proved too fast for both horses. They went on to finish eight and ninth, respectively, last across the wire at Gulfstream Park.
"
We could have gone 24 and 48 and it still would have just been the two of us on the backside, so I don’t understand the logic there," Albarado said. "But he came back good. I took care of him.”
A son of Shackleford, Promises Fulfilled remains on track to run on the first Saturday in May by way of his 50 qualifying points earned last out in a Grade 2 Fountain of Youth victory. That day, Strike Power put far less pressure on his front-running rival.
“You live by the sword, you die by the sword," trainer Dale Romans said Saturday. "We went wire to wire last time, but that doesn’t mean we don’t regroup and go back in the Derby.”
Campaigned by Robert Baron, Promises Fulfilled has still won three of his five starts, with the colt's worst finish before Saturday a third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November. He will train up to the Kentucky Derby at Romans' Churchill Downs base along with Coach Rocks, the barn's Kentucky Oaks contender after a score in Saturday's Gulfstream Park Oaks.
As for Strike Power, trainer Mark Hennig tweeted that "we will regroup and find his proper distance."
The hot Florida Derby pace allowed Audible and Hofburg to close well, with those running 1-2 at Gulfstream.
But that didn't stop a pace battle from forming early in the 2018 Kentucky Derby prep.
Strike Power, from the inside post, challenged Albarado's Promises Fulfilled through an opening quarter mile of 21.95 seconds that proved too fast for both horses. They went on to finish eight and ninth, respectively, last across the wire at Gulfstream Park.
"
A son of Shackleford, Promises Fulfilled remains on track to run on the first Saturday in May by way of his 50 qualifying points earned last out in a Grade 2 Fountain of Youth victory. That day, Strike Power put far less pressure on his front-running rival.
“You live by the sword, you die by the sword," trainer Dale Romans said Saturday. "We went wire to wire last time, but that doesn’t mean we don’t regroup and go back in the Derby.”
Campaigned by Robert Baron, Promises Fulfilled has still won three of his five starts, with the colt's worst finish before Saturday a third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last November. He will train up to the Kentucky Derby at Romans' Churchill Downs base along with Coach Rocks, the barn's Kentucky Oaks contender after a score in Saturday's Gulfstream Park Oaks.
As for Strike Power, trainer Mark Hennig tweeted that "we will regroup and find his proper distance."
The hot Florida Derby pace allowed Audible and Hofburg to close well, with those running 1-2 at Gulfstream.
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