2022 Florida Derby Contenders at Gulfstream Park

Simplification and White Abarrio are scheduled for a long-awaited rematch in the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, April 2.

The 71st running of the Curlin Florida Derby will headline a 14-race program with 10 stakes, including six graded stakes, worth $2.2 million in purses. The all-stakes Late Pick 4 and Late Pick 5 pools will both be guaranteed at $750,000. First-race post time is set for 11:30 a.m.

Simplification has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite after drawing Post Position No. 3 Wednesday, while White Abarrio is rated second at 3-1 after drawing Post Position No. 7.

Antonio Sano-trained Simplification was no match for Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained White Abarrio in the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3), in which he finished second, beaten 4 ½ lengths, following a troubled start and a wide trip. A rematch between the two Triple Crown prospects was put on hold when Joseph opted to bypass the March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) in favor of training White Abarrio up to the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby. Simplification took full advantage of the Holy Bull winner’s absence, scoring a dominating victory.

While White Abarrio has had a few minor setbacks on the road to the Florida Derby, Simplification has kept a steady schedule of development during the Championship Meet. The son of Not This Time, a front-running winner of the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man, has demonstrated a new dimension since being sent around two turns. He closed for second in the mile 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull before rating in seventh on the backstretch in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth before making a sweeping move to the lead and drawing away to win by 3 ½ lengths.

“I love this horse,” Sano said. “He has so much heart.”

Sano, who ventured from Venezuela to South Florida in 2009, saddled 2017 Fountain of Youth winner Gunnevera for a third-place finish in the Florida Derby. A Florida Derby victory remains a priority for Venezuela’s all-time winningest trainer with more than 3,000 victories.

“I’d be very proud for me, my family, my clients and for Gulfstream,” said Sano, who has saddled more than 860 winners in the U.S. “My house is Gulfstream. I’d be happy to win this race in my house.”

The ultimate goal, of course, is the Kentucky Derby (G1) on the first Saturday in May.

“The Kentucky Derby is five weeks after the Florida Derby. I know there will be different horses, but I think my horse will have a chance,” said Sano, who saddled Gunnevera for a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

Starters in Gulfstream Park’s tradition-rich stakes for 3-year-olds have gone on to win 58 Triple Crown races, including 24 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. Participants in this year’s Florida Derby will vie for 170 qualifying points for the May 7 Kentucky Derby with 100 going to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 to the third-place finisher and 10 to the fourth-place finisher.

Simplification, who has already earned sufficient points to be included in the Kentucky Derby field, is one of four entrants in the Florida Derby field of 11 that is eligible for a share of the $100,000 Florida-Bred Bonus, which will be distributed on a 70-20-10 basis for an in-the-money finish. There will also be a $100,000 `Win Only’ bonus available to offspring of Florida Sire Stakes-nominated stallions.

Jose Ortiz has the return call aboard Simplification.

White Abarrio had missed a couple of workouts prior to his overpowering victory over Simplification in the Holy Bull, prompting Joseph to point directly toward the Florida Derby to give the Kentucky-bred colt sufficient time to bounce back from such a dazzling performance under less-than-optimal conditions.

Unfortunately, the Joseph trainee spiked a fever early last week, forcing Joseph to readjust his training schedule, cancelling a scheduled workout Sunday in favor of a three-furlong blow-out Tuesday.

“All his works had gotten better and better. But things never seem to go the way you want them to, and we got a curveball thrown at us,” said Joseph, who expressed satisfaction with the swift breeze in 34.96 seconds. “We’ll hope he shows up in the race. If he does, I think he’s as good as any of the horses.”

Because he didn’t run in the Fountain of Youth, White Abarrio has one chance in the Florida Derby to earn his way into the Kentucky Derby field.

“If you’re good enough, you’re going to make it,” Joseph said. “You don’t want to be there if you don’t have a chance to win. He acts like he’s good enough. His Holy Bull was impressive. If he would repeat that you would think he’d have a very good chance.”

The son of Race Day was purchased by his current connections after debuting at Gulfstream Sept. 24 with a 6 ¾-length triumph. He went on to win an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream by four lengths five weeks later. White Abarrio concluded his 2021 campaign with a third-place finish in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs behind Smile Happy and Classic Causeway.

Tyler Gaffalione has the return mount on White Abarrio.

Like Simplification, Kentucky West Racing LLC and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway has thrived since his last meeting with White Abarrio.

Classic Causeway, a first-out winner at Saratoga last summer before finishing third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and second in the Kentucky Jockey Club at 1 1/16 miles, captured the Feb. 12 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in his 2022 debut in advance of a dominating front-running 2 ½-length triumph in the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

“It just seems like he came out of the Tampa Bay race – the Tampa Bay Derby – so well that it seemed logical to me to just ship him down the road rather than to take him to Kentucky and maybe fight the elements up there. The weather can get funny in the spring,” said trainer Brian Lynch, who was targeting the April 9 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.

With his victories in the Sam F. Davis and Tampa Bay Derby, the son of Giant’s Causeway has already earned his way into the Kentucky Derby field.

“I never get too far ahead of myself. I live for today and pray for tomorrow,” Lynch said. “We’ll take it one day at a time and hopefully, he keeps taking us in the direction he’s taken us and keeps improving, because the waters will get deeper. But he does seem like the right horse to be doing it with.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. is set for a return aboard Classic Causeway, who was rated as co-third choice at 7-2 with Whisper Hill Farm LLC’s Charge It.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is slated to seek a record seventh Florida Derby success when he saddles Charge It, a son of Tapit who is coming off an eye-catching 8 ½-length maiden victory at Gulfstream Feb. 12.

Charge It, who is out of a daughter of multiple Grade 1 stakes winner Take Charge Lady, is scheduled to make his third career start in the Florida Derby after losing a photo finish in his debut and graduating impressively. Pletcher saddled Constitution (2014) and Materiality (2015) for Florida Derby wins in their third starts.

Luis Saez has the return call.

Rustlewood Farm Inc.’s Pappacap, who scored an impressive debut victory at Gulfstream last May, is slated for a return run in the Florida Derby. The Mark Casse-trained son of Gun Runner followed up his maiden win with a victory in the Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar. The Florida-bred colt went on to finish second in both the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar to complete his 2-year-old campaign.

Pappacap began his 3-year-old campaign with a third-place finish in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, three-quarters of a length behind Call Me Midnight and a half-length behind runner-up Epicenter. He turned in a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Risen Star (G2) at the New Orleans track in his most recent start.

“I’ve scratched my head trying to figure out why he hasn’t run better. Every indication is that he’s a really good horse,” Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said. “There are a lot of questions, especially after his last performance.”

Edwin Gonzalez, who was aboard for Pappacap’s winning debut, has the call.

OGMA Investments LLC and Jack Hardin Towell Jr.’s O Captain, who rallied from 11th and last to finish third in the Fountain of Youth, is expected by his connections to appreciate the added distance of the Florida Derby.

The son of Carpe Diem entered the Fountain of Youth off a front-running debut victory at 5 ½ furlongs and a third-place finish in the six-furlong Limehouse, both at Gulfstream Park.

Joel Rosario is scheduled to ride O Captain for the first time Saturday.

Miracle’s International Trading Inc.’s Strike Hard, who rallied from 12th to finish fourth behind Classic Causeway in the Sam F. Davis last time out, enters the Florida Derby with two victories and five in-the-money finishes at Gulfstream. The Matthew Williams-trained son of Flashback finished second behind Simplification in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man two starts back.

Junior Alvarado, who rode Strike Hard in his maiden-breaker and his runner-up finish in the Mucho Macho Man, returns to the saddle.

Carrie Brogden’s Steal Sunshine, a Bobby Dibona-trained son of Constitution who finished second in a recent Gulfstream optional claiming allowance; Daniel Alonso’s King of Truth, runner-up in a pair of starter allowances in his last two; Stonehedge LLC’s Cajun’s Magic, a son of Cajun Breeze who finished fifth in the Holy Bull last time out; and Arindel’s Clapton, a son of Brethren who won a Florida-bred optional claiming allowance last time out, round out the field. Cajun’s Magic and Clapton are eligible for the $100,000 FSS `Win Only’ Bonus.

Florida Derby Pre-Draw News

Classic Causeway Eyeing G1 Florida Derby

March 27 – Kentucky West Racing LLC and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway is scheduled to make his next start in Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill `n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa at Gulfstream Park.

The Brian Lynch-trained son of Giant’s Causeway, who breezed a half-mile in 47.45 seconds Saturday at Gulfstream’s Palm Meadows Training Center in Palm Beach County, is coming off a 2 ¾-length victory in the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The April 9 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland had also been under consideration for Classic Causeway’s final prep for the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1).

“We’re leaning toward the Florida Derby. He’s right here at Palm Meadows. We’ll just have to make a short trip down there Friday afternoon,” Lynch said. “We can school him Friday, stay the night, and run the next day. There’s always concern about the weather in Kentucky. As prestigious as the Blue Grass is, I think the Florida Derby is the equivalent to it and it does give the five weeks to the Derby.”

Classic Causeway, a first-out winner at Saratoga last summer before finishing third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, captured the Feb. 12 Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs in his 2022 debut in advance of his dominating front-running triumph in the Tampa Bay Derby.

“He was very impressive breaking his maiden at Saratoga. We’ve always had his 3-year-old campaign in mind, so we didn’t try to over-race him as a 2-year-old. We just wanted to educate him around two turns,” Lynch said. “We gave him a little time over the Christmas and New Year’s period. He’s just a colt that seems to be getting better with each race. We couldn’t be happier than where we’re at with him right now.”

Classic Causeway joins an already strong Florida Derby cast of Triple Crown contenders, including Fountain of Youth (G2) hero Simplification, Holy Bull (G3) winner White Abarrio and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Pappacap.

Simplification Clocks Second Fastest Workout

March 26 – Tami Bobo’s Simplification breezed five furlongs at Gulfstream Park Saturday morning in final preparation for a planned start in next Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).

The son of Not This Time produced the second fastest clocking of 31 workouts recorded at the five-furlong distance while completing five furlongs in 59.91 seconds under Leonel Reyes, who was subbing for jockey Jose Ortiz, who rode on Saturday’s Dubai World Cup program.

“He breezed faster than I thought he would. He worked good and came out of the work good,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “The jockey told me he was easy to handle. The gallop-out after the finish was very, very good – better than last week.”

Simplification is coming off a dominating 3 ½-length victory March 5 in the 1 1/16-mile Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2), in which he made a sweeping move from off the pace to give his trainer his second success in the final prep for the Gulfstream’s signature 1 1/8-mile Triple Crown prep.

“I’m so happy. He is doing great. I know there are good horses in the race, but my horse is getting stronger and stronger,” said Sano, who saddled Gunnevera for a Fountain of Youth victory in 2017 prior to a third-place finish in the Florida Derby.

Simplification kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a front-running victory in the mile Mucho Macho Man Jan. 1 before finishing a troubled second behind Florida Derby contender White Abarrio in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull Feb. 5.

OGMA Investments LLC and Jack Hardin Towell Jr.’s O Captain, a deep-closing third in the Fountain of Youth, breezed five furlongs in 1:03.11 at Gulfstream Park for the Florida Derby. Carrie Brogden’s Steal Sunshine, a recent runner-up in a Gulfstream optional claiming allowance, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.57 for trainer Bobby DiBona.

At Palm Meadows Training Center, Rustlewood Farm Inc.’s Pappacap turned in a sharp half-mile breeze in 47.80 seconds Saturday morning at Casse Training Center for his scheduled return to Gulfstream next Saturday. The son of Gun Runner scored a debut victory at Gulfstream last May before going on the win the Best Pal (G2) at Del Mar in his next start. The Mark Casse trainee finished second in both the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar before finishing a close third in the Lecomte (G3) and running off the board in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Kentucky West Racing LLC and Clarke Cooper’s Classic Causeway, who captured the March 12 Tampa Bay Derby (G2), returned to the worktab at Gulfstream Park’s satellite training center in Palm Beach Country Saturday morning with a half-mile breeze in 47.45 seconds. The Brian Lynch-trained son of Giant’s Causeway, who produced the second fastest of 93 works at the distance, is possible for a Kentucky Derby tune-up in the Florida Derby.

At Palm Beach Downs, Whisper Hill Farm LLC’s Charge It breezed a half-mile in 48.30 seconds, the fastest clocking of 30 recorded at the distance. The Todd Pletcher-trained son of Tapit is coming off a sharp maiden score at Gulfstream Park.

Irish Smith Stable LLC’s Shipsational, who finished third behind Classic Causeway in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), tuned up for a scheduled start in the Florida Derby with a five-furlong breeze in 1:02 at Tampa Bay Downs.

White Abarrio & Simplification Top Florida Derby Nominations

March 23 – Tami Bobo’s Simplification, a dominating winner of the March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2), and C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC’s White Abarrio, a convincing victor in the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3), are prominent among the 32 3-year-olds nominated for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill `n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa April 2 at Gulfstream Park.

The 71st running of the Curlin Florida Derby will headline a program offering 10 stakes, including six graded stakes, worth $2.2 million. Starters in Gulfstream Park’s tradition-rich stakes for 3-year-olds have gone on to win 58 Triple Crown races, including 24 runnings of the Kentucky Derby (G1). Participants in this year’s Florida Derby will vie for 170 qualifying points for the May 7 Kentucky Derby with 100 going to the winner, 40 to the runner-up, 20 to the third-place finisher and 10 to the fourth-place finisher.

Antonio Sano-trained Simplification, a front-running winner of the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man, demonstrated a new dimension while closing for second in the Holy Bull following a troubled start and wide trip. The Florida-bred colt rated in seventh on the backstretch before making a sweeping move to the lead and drawing away to win the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth.

Simplification is eligible for a share of the $100,000 Florida-Bred Bonus, which will be distributed on a 70-20-10 basis for an in-the-money finish. There will also be a $100,000 `Win Only’ Bonus available to offspring of Florida Sire Stakes-nominated stallions.

Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained White Abarrio, who bypassed the Fountain of Youth, defeated Simplification by 4 ½ lengths in the Holy Bull in his 2022 debut. The son of Race Day was purchased by his current connections after debuting at Gulfstream Sept. 24 with a 6 ¾-length triumph. He went on to win an optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream by four lengths five weeks later. White Abarrio concluded his 2021 campaign with a third-place finish in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs behind Smile Happy and Classic Causeway. Joseph-trained A.P.’s Secret and Skippylongstocking are also nominated.

OGMA Investments LLC and Jack Hardin Towell Jr.’s O Captain, who closed with a rush from 11th and last to finish third in the Fountain of Youth at 87-1, is being pointed to the Florida Derby. The Gustavo Delgado-trained son of Carpe Diem led throughout his 5 ½-furlong debut to win at first asking at Gulfstream in August before returning Jan. 1 to finish third in the Limehouse Stakes.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is expected to seek a record seventh Florida Derby success with Whisper Hill Farm LLC’s Charge It, a son of Tapit who is coming off an eye-catching 8 ½-length maiden victory at Gulfstream Feb. 12. Pletcher-trained Emmanuel, Major General, Pioneer of Medina, Swing Shift and Mo Donegal are also nominated.

Iris Smith Stable LLC’s Shipsational, who finished second in the Sam F. Davis (G3) and third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), is scheduled to travel across the state of Florida to run in the Florida Derby. The Edward Barker-trained son of Midshipman won three of four starts last year, including a pair of New York-bred stakes triumphs.

Reddam Racing LLC and trainer Doug O’Neill, who teamed with Nyquist to win the 2016 Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby, have nominated Slow Down Andy, the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) winner who finished off the board in the Feb. 19 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds. O’Neill-trained Win the Day, an easy maiden winner at Santa Anita March 6, is also nominated.

Lucky Seven Stable’s Smile Happy was nominated but is not scheduled to run in the Florida Derby.

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White Abarrio Breezes for April 2 Florida Derby

March 20 – C2 Racing Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC’s White Abarrio breezed an `easy’ five furlongs at Gulfstream Park, giving trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. confidence that the son of Race Day will be at his best for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) in two weeks.

“Two weeks out, so far, so good. Two weeks is a long time with horses, but as far as everything has gone preparation-wise, I’m very happy with how things have gone,” Joseph said.

White Abarrio, who breezed in company for his fourth workout since capturing the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3), was timed in 1:00.42, the fourth fastest clocking of 17 recorded at the distance.

“Today was more of an easier breeze with a good finish and a good gallop-out,” Joseph said. “Everything went to plan. He sat off a workmate; he relaxed well. I had his last quarter in 23 (seconds), so it was a good finish.”

Tyler Gaffalione was aboard for the breeze.

White Abarrio is coming off a 4 ½-length romp in the Holy Bull, in which Simplification finished second before coming back to capture the March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) impressively.

White Abarrio debuted with an impressive 6 ¾-length victory at Gulfstream Sept. 24 before being purchased privately by his current connections, for whom he scored a four-length optional claiming allowance victory Oct. 29. He concluded his juvenile campaign with a third-place finish behind Smile Happy and Classic Causeway in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Nominations for Florida Derby, 9 Stakes Close March 20

March 19 – Nominations for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) and nine other stakes to be run on the April 2 program at Gulfstream Park will close Sunday, March 20.

The 1 1/8-mile tradition-rich Florida Derby will be supported by five other graded stakes – $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), a 1 1/16 mile stakes for 3-year-old fillies; $200,000 Pan American (G2), a 1 ½-mile turf stakes for older horses; $150,000 Orchid (G3), 1 ½-mile turf event for older fillies and mares; $100,000 Ghostzapper (G3), a 1 1/8-mile race for older horses; and $100,000 Kitten’s Joy Appleton (G3), a mile turf stakes for older horses.

The $100,000 Sand Springs, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for older fillies and mares; $100,000 Cutler Bay, a 1 1/16-mile turf event for 3-year-olds; $100,000 Sanibel Island, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies; and $100,000 Sir Shackleton, a seven-furlong sprint for older horses; will also be included on the Florida Derby Day card.

Simplification Eyeing Grade 1 Florida Derby

MARCH 6 – Tami Bobo’s Simplification exited his dominating triumph in the 2022 $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park in good order and will be pointed toward the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 2, trainer Antonio Sano reported.

The 3-year-old son of Not This Time, a front-running winner of the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man, finished a courageous second behind highly regarded White Abarrio in the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3) following a troubled start and wide trip, turned in a thoroughly professional off-the-place performance Saturday to win his first graded-stakes win in his first race around two turns.

“The bad break last race changed everything. Yesterday, good break, a little problem in traffic, and when the jockey took him outside, the horse ran well,” Sano said. “I am proud of my horse. I’m happy for all the support the people give to me. I’m happy for another chance to win the Kentucky Derby.”

While scoring by 3 ½ lengths in the Fountain of Youth, Simplification earned 50 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points while providing Sano with his second Fountain of Youth success. Sano saddled the popular deep-closing Gunnevera for a victory in the tradition-rich stakes in 2017.

“This horse is different. He runs in the front, in the middle or behind,” said Sano, whose Florida-bred trainee is tied for second in the Kentucky Derby point standings with 54 points, 10 fewer than Epicenter. “He’s a different horse, more focused in the race.”

Gunnevera went on to finish third in the Florida Derby before turning in a creditable seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, in which he ran into traffic while racing well off the pace before making a solid five-wide run. The son of Dialed In continued to race in graded-stakes company for the remainder of his career while earning more than $5.5 million in purses.

White Abarrio Prepping for Florida Derby

MARCH 6 – C2 Stable LLC and La Milagrosa Stable LLC’s White Abarrio, who bypassed this year’s edition of the Fountain of Youth (G2), breezed a strong four furlongs in 47.12 seconds Sunday morning at Gulfstream Park in preparation for a scheduled start in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 2.

The 3-year-old son of Race Day’s workout, the second since capturing the Feb. 5 Holy Bull (G3) by 4 ½ lengths, was the second-fastest move of 125 recorded at the distance.

“He worked really well second work back. We were looking for a little bit more and we emphasized galloping out because we’re looking to build up his stamina a bit more,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “The gallop-out was as good as the work.”

White Abarrio, who won his first two starts before concluding his 2021 campaign with a third-place finish behind Smile Happy in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), led throughout the mile Holy Bull, in which Simplification finished second. The Antonio Sano-trained runner-up came back to capture Saturday’s Fountain of Youth by 3 ½ lengths.

“I’m a big believer in form lines as far as horses that you beat coming back to win. To see Sano’s horse come back and run like that was a big result for us,” Joseph said. “Full credit to Sano for having his horse ready to run like that.”

Joseph said White Abarrio is scheduled to breeze five furlongs for his next two workouts before returning to a half-mile in preparation for the 1 1/8-mile Curlin Florida Derby.

Joseph reported that A.P.’s Secret exited his troubled sevenths in the Fountain of Youth in good order.

“I’m going to give him one more chance. I believe in the horse. I truly believe he’s that kind of horse,” said Joseph, who mentioned the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct as the most likely target for the son of Cupid.

In Due Time Enjoys `Good’ Morning after Promising Run, O Captain to Point to Florida Derby

MARCH 6 – Edge Racing, Medallion Racing and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ In Due Time, who rallied late to finish second behind Simplification in Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, was reported to have come out of his promising effort in good order.

“We’re good,” trainer Kelly Breen said Sunday. “He ate up everything last night. Other than his eyes tearing a little bit from getting the dirt kicked in his face, he looks good.”

In Due Time dropped back on the backstretch and raced in traffic before making a strong late run in the stretch to check in 3 ½ lengths behind victorious Simplification a length ahead of 87-1 third-place finisher O Captain.

“I think he was still getting used to getting dirt kicked in his face. When he finally got a clear run in at the eighth pole – it probably was the sixteenth-pole – he got outside and he was running the last part,” Breen said.

The son of Not This Time was coming off an impressive 5 ¾-length optional claiming allowance victory at Gulfstream Feb. 4.

“We always thought that he was a nice horse. We were contemplating going to Tampa, but I wanted to stay here in surroundings he’s been accustomed to, and because of his affinity for the track, not that he doesn’t like any other track,” Breen said. “Why do anything different? I thought he ran a creditable race against a nice field of horses.”

Breen said a decision won’t be made concerning In Due Time’s next start until he returns to the training.

“Where we go from here? I’m going to wait for him to get back onto the track and see how he’s training,” Breen said. “The Florida Derby is in our backyard, but I won’t say anything until I talk to the owners and come up with a game plan.”

OGMA Investments LLC and Jack Hardin’s O Captain, who rallied from last to finish third in the Fountain of Youth, is likely to return in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) April 2.

“That is the plan,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., the trainer’s assistant and son.

O Captain, a son of Carpe Diem, surprised many bettors, but his connections said they were expecting a strong race from the 87-1 longshot.

“We expected him to run a big race. He was training so good for it,” Delgado Jr. said. “We knew he would like the mile and a sixteenth because of his family.”

O Captain debuted with a front-running 9 ¼-length victory at Gulfstream in August and returned to finish a late-closing third in the six-furlong Limehouse in his most recent start Jan. 1.

Junior Alvarado and Joel Rosario, who were unseated when their mounts High Oak and Galt, respectively, fell on the turn into the homestretch in the Fountain of Youth, escaped serious injury. Alvarado took off his scheduled mounts Sunday but is expected to return to action for Wednesday’s program at Gulfstream. Both horses also escaped injury.