Tipsheet: 2025 Florida Derby

An excellent field of 10 sophomores will travel 1 1/8 miles on the Gulfstream Park dirt in Saturday’s lucrative, $1 million Florida Derby (G2). The 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis. 

Florida Derby Picks

• #9 Tappan Street
• #10 Sovereignty
• #4 Disruptor
• #8 Madaket Road

Florida Derby Wagers

• $20 win and place #9 Tappan Street
• $5 exacta key box 9 with 4,8,10

Florida Derby Contenders

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#1 NEOEQUOS: Saffie Joseph trainee gave a good account of himself when showing speed and staying on late in the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) in his graded debut and will be a pace factor from the fence in this spot. This Neolithic colt proved capable of running two turns in that performance and is not without a chance beneath Edgard Zayas. 

#2 COOL INTENTIONS: Talented Authentic colt is a two-time winner on the strip and will make his two-turn bow today for conditioner Jorge Delgado. The Kentucky-bred bay didn’t fire last time when wide throughout, but he did flash a lot of ability prior to that one and has appeal with Javier Castellano taking the reins. 

#3 SMOKEN BOY: Outsider makes a first run off the claim for Cheryl Winebaugh and has been dusted in a pair of runs since coming to the states. The Group 1 winner is difficult to endorse in his current form cycle. 

#4 DISRUPTOR: Todd Pletcher pupil smashed maiden foes in his second lifetime run on the surface last time out and looks like a nice prospect going forward. This Gun Runner colt is questionable at the distance while facing this kind, but he has trained well as of late and also retains Irad Ortiz Jr. The $1.15 million purchase will be in the hunt from the start. 

#5 INDECISIVENESS: Decisive Moment colt was third with allowance runners on the strip most recently and will need a huge move forward to challenge this cast late for Ruben Sierra. The dark bay Florida-bred would be a big surprise with Jorge Ruiz in the stirrups. 

#6 JIMMY’S DAILYS: Improved son of Vekoma was a smart maiden winner on the surface two back prior to finishing a useful runner-up in his dirt bow most recently. This Brian Lynch pupil is moving in the right direction and continues to train forwardly, but he will need to put in a lifetime best performance to challenge the top guns in the contest. Joel Rosario inherits the ride. 

#7 ENTERDADRAGON: Capable turf performer rallied to be second in the Colonel Liam S. in his latest showing and will make the transition to the dirt for Jose D’Angelo. This Outwork gelding has moved up since having the blinkers removed, but I can’t endorse him as he runs on the dirt for just the second time. 

#8 MADAKET ROAD: Bob Baffert trainee was a nice second in the Rebel S. (G2) last time out and makes a lot of sense with the blinkers coming off on this occasion. The gray son of Quality Road has posted two bullet drills from a trio of works leading up to this tilt, and I still expect him to be forcing the tempo from the break on Saturday. Tyler Gaffalione has the assignment. 

#9 TAPPAN STREET: Top pick has done little wrong from a pair of career runs to date and comes in fresh for conditioner Brad Cox. This lightly raced son of Into Mischief was a sharp debut winner from off the pace at first asking, which preceded a clear runner-up effort in the local Holy Bull S. (G3). The $1 million yearling purchase will stalk the pace early with regular pilot Luis Saez in the irons. 

#10 SOVEREIGNTY: Impressive Godolphin homebred annexed the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) in his 2025 debut and looms large with an expected move forward second off the bench. Trained by Bill Mott, the ultra-talented son of Into Mischief possesses a substantial turn of foot, and despite drawing widest in the field, the bay colt will still be a massive threat with anything close to his best effort.