HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Materiality is still unbeaten after a victory in the $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Now a winner in all of his three outings, Materiality held off Upstart and finished the 1 1/8 miles in 1 minute, 52.30 seconds on Saturday with jockey John Velazquez aboard.
Materiality ($5.60 for the win) is from the powerful stable trained by Todd Pletcher, who figures to have at least three horses in the Kentucky Derby on May 2 -- and this one might have just announced itself as a contender.
"It shaped up exactly as Johnny and I talked after the previous race how it might shape up," Pletcher said.
Under the points system now used to determine the Kentucky Derby field, Materiality now certainly has enough to get into the Run for the Roses. The Florida Derby win was not only worth $600,000 in purse but 100 points in the all-important standings.
Ami's Flatter was third.
Upstart was three-wide into the first turn, as 60-1 longshot Jack Tripp settled on the lead, just ahead of Materiality -- and with a half mile to run, the favorites took their spot well ahead of the field.
They hit the top of the stretch together, no one else having a shot at that point. Materiality was on the inside, Upstart just off his right, and while Materiality seemed to come inside and knock Upstart off his path a bit. No inquiry was announced.
"We got very close," Velazquez said. "That's for sure. ... There was a little brush, maybe."
Louisiana Derby
NEW ORLEANS -- Jockey Miguel Mena guided International Star to a come-from-behind victory in the $750,000 Grade II Louisiana Derby, giving the horse a sweep of all three Kentucky Derby prep races at the Fair Grounds Race course.
Breaking from the outside post as a 2-1 co-favorite, International Star settled along the rail in the back half of the nine-horse field. He then methodically worked forward before surging in front down the final stretch and beating Stanford by a neck. His winning time in the 1 1/8-mile race was 1:50.67.
War Story, the other co-favorite ridden by Joe Talamo, finished third.
Trained by Mike Maker, International Star paid $6.60, $3.60 and $2.60, adding the Louisiana Derby to victories in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes in February and Grade III Lecomte Stakes in January.
Stanford returned $7 and $4.80, and War Story paid $2.80.
Dubai World Cup
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Prince Bishop pulled away from race favorite California Chrome on the home straight to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup by two and three-quarter lengths.
Starting from the inside No. 1 post, William Buick rode Prince Bishop to the horse's first victory on dirt, while California Chrome's travails on the surface continue.
The Art Sherman-trained 4-year-old, the U.S. horse of the year, has not won on dirt since the Preakness Stakes and, despite lying second going into the final leg, could not keep pace when Prince Bishop attacked.
The 8-year-old was bred in Ireland, owned by Saeed bin Suror, and trained in the Emirates.
Lea, trained by William Mott, finished third at Meydan Racecourse.
Sports on 03/29/2015