FLORIDA DERBY : Fly So Free Is Winner of a Waiting Game

Fly So Free, who waits for his challengers, did it again Saturday in the Florida Derby but still won.

The victory wasn’t spectacular, controversial or at all fast and nobody was talking Super Horse when the race was over. Nevertheless, Fly So Free did what he almost always does and must remain the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May.

The chestnut three-year-old, trained by Scotty Schulhofer, has won seven of nine career starts and added $300,000 to his career earnings with Saturday’s one-length victory over Strike The Gold in 1:50 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast-but-tiring track. Fly So Free’s career earnings are $1.3 million.

Hansel finished third and Jackie Wackie, the second-favored “people’s choice” who came into the race with nine consecutive victories against lesser foes, finished a badly-beaten seventh, 21 lengths behind.

Fly So Free, ridden by Jose Santos, was fourth on the backstretch, three-wide, but rushed almost effortlessly into the lead turning for home. Once ahead, Fly So Free did not draw clear and had to withstand a steady charge from Strike The Gold.

“He waits for his competition,” Santos said. “But when they come to him, he takes off again. He will definitely go farther, too. The longer they go, the better it will be for him. I gotta stick with Fly So Free. A horse like him doesn’t come around very often.”

“I guess we’re lucky he’s good enough to wait for competition and then pull away,” said Schulhofer, who was visibly agitated by questions about his colt’s running style. “When he puts the race away he figures his job is done, I guess.”

Fly So Free is scheduled to race next in the Blue Grass April 13 at Keeneland as is Strike The Gold. The future of Jackie Wackie remains uncertain.

“He just didn’t run his race today,” said Herb Castillo, his jockey. “He was very upset going into the gate, and I think he was bothered by the crowd and excitement.”

Fly So Free paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10, Strike The Gold returned $4.40 and $2.80 and Hansel paid $2.40.

Unbridled, last year’s Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic champion, made a spectacular 1991 debut Saturday by running down Housebuster in the seven-furlong Deputy Minister Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The Carl Nafzger-trained colt trailed by 10 lengths on the backstretch but ran an 11-second final eighth of a mile to sweep past Housebuster, last year’s sprint champion who was also making his 1991 debut, in 1:21 4/5.

It was Unbridled’s first race since the Breeders Cup Classic last Oct. 27 and he returned $8.20, $3 and $2.40.