With the Kentucky Derby prep races in their final few weeks, usracing.com is publishing profiles of the contenders for the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) on Saturday [March 27], a Derby points-qualifier offering 100-40-20-10 points to the first four finishers. Post-position and odds will be updated following Wednesday’s draw.
By Richard Rosenblatt
What’s a maiden winner on turf doing in the Florida Derby (G1)?
Trying to earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on dirt, of course.
Gulfstream Park – Photo Courtesy of www.creoindustrialarts.com
This doesn’t make much sense, but Sigiloso is a go for Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Derby qualifier offering 100-40-20-10 points to the first four finishers.
If nothing else, Sigiloso has a home field advantage at Gulfstream Park, but three of his four races have been on the turf – he has a maiden win by a neck in a 1-mile maiden special weight on Jan. 13, and subsequently finished fourth, and fifth, in his next two races, most recently fifth in the Palm Beach Stakes on Feb. 27.
In his career debut, he ran fifth in a 6-furlong race on dirt on Dec. 10.
His last four posted works have been on dirt, most recently a 6-furlong breeze at Gulfstream Park West on March 20, covering the distance in 1:13.80 for trainer Antonio Sano.
In addition to a longshot attempt to qualify for the Derby on May 1, the Florida bred who finished third in the Kitten’s Joy (G3) on Jan. 30, is eligible for a $100,000 `Win Only’ bonus offered to Florida Sire Stakes-nominated horses.
Florida Derby Contenders 2021: Sigiloso
Post position: TBD
Odds: TBD
Trainer: Antonio Sano
Jockey: Edgard Zagas
Owner: Gelfenstein Farm
Age: 3
Career record: 3-1-0-0
Career earnings: $32,260
Top Equibase speed figure: 99
Pedigree: Khozan-Ginablu, by Bluegrass Cat
Color: Chestnut
Running style: Closer
Notes: Was purchased for $110,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale for 2-year-olds in training … Sano is looking for his first Grade 1 win – his top horse to date is Gunnevera, a winner of the 2016 Saratoga Special (G2) and the 2017 Fountain of Youth (G2).
Over the years while working at The Associated Press, Rich Rosenblatt became a familiar name to legions of the horse racing fans and industry insiders with his award-winning articles on horse racing and his stories from the backstretch.
In addition to being an astute observer of sports, Rosenblatt is the co-author of The All-American Chili Cookbook. His work has been seen in just about every publication in the world, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and Time Magazine.