Florida Derby : Cryptoclearance Outlasts No More Flowers, Talinum

Cryptoclearance took the long way home to his Florida Derby victory at Gulfstream Park Saturday and it paid off in a trip to the May 2 Kentucky Derby.

With 3-5 favorite Bet Twice blocked off in the stretch run and finishing fifth in the field of nine 3-year-olds, it was left to Cryptoclearance, racing on the outside, to outlast No More Flowers and Talinum in a battle to the wire.

Cryptoclearance, owned by Philip Teinowitz, scored by a head over No More Flowers, who was a nose ahead of Talinum, the Flamingo winner.

“There is a lot of pressure going to the Kentucky Derby,” said trainer Scotty Schulhofer, “but I’m looking forward to it.”

The son of Fappiano-Naval Orange was the slowest out of the gate under Jose Santos and raced wide most of the way.

The colt was six wide on the second turn and eight wide at the head of the stretch before joining front-runners No More Flowers, a 14-1 shot, and Talinum, the 7-2 second choice, in midstretch.

“He knows he is a good horse,” Schulhofer said. “A mile and a quarter (the Derby distance) won’t hurt him. There is a lot of stamina on the dam’s side.

“He came on the outside--the best place to get the job done today. When they fanned out turning for home, I was just hoping he didn’t get fanned too far. He really responded when Jose set him down.”

Walter Guerra, who rode No More Flowers, said, “I think I would have won it if he had seen the horse (Cryptoclearance) coming up on the outside. But there was a horse between us (Talinum) that blocked his view.”

Jimmy Croll, who trains Bet Twice, said, “He just didn’t run his race. I can’t blame it on the trouble in the race.”

The winner, who ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49 3/5, paid $7.40, $5 and $5 as the second choice to backers in the crowd of 25,133. No More Flowers, 118 pounds, paid $9 and $5. Talinum, 122, returned $4.40.

The victory was worth $300,000 and boosted the winner’s earnings to $520,750.