Florida Derby on Saturday Attracts Field of 10; Forty Niner 2-1 Favorite

Forty Niner was made the 2-1 favorite Thursday after 10 3-year-olds were entered to run Saturday in the $500,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Ruhlmann, based on his fast victory in the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows in January, was made the 3-1 second choice. Forty Niner is hoping to crack historical precedence by using the Florida Derby as a steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby May 7. He won his division title last year, but no 2-year-old champion has won the Kentucky Derby since Spectacular Bid in 1978.

The Florida Derby will be run over the same track on which Forty Niner beat Notebook by a nose in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth three weeks ago. Saturday’s race is 1/16 of a mile longer.

Saturday’s field, with jockeys and morning-line odds: Twice Too Many, Garry Bain, 20-1; Sorry About That, Jose Santos, 8-1; Ruhlmann, Pat Day, 3-1; Brian’s Time, Randy Romero, 20-1; Frosty the Snowman, Craig Perret, 12-1; Buoy, Earlie Fires, 10-1; Evening Kris, Mike Gonzalez, 20-1; Notebook, Laffit Pincay, 6-1; Forty Niner, Eddie Maple, 2-1, and Cherokee Colony, Jorge Velasquez, 5-1.

All starters will carry 122 pounds, except Twice Too Many, Brian’s Time and Evening Kris, who will run with 118 apiece.