Monarchos Powers His Way to Victory in Florida Derby

Making his stakes debut, Monarchos made a mockery of his 12 rivals in the $1-million Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Less than two months removed from his maiden victory, the gray son of Maria’s Mon was 11th for the first half-mile, made a powerful run while wide, then drew away in the stretch to win by 4 1/2 lengths over 7-2 second choice Outofthebox in 1:49 4/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

Owned by John Oxley, whose two previous starters in the Florida Derby had finished sixth, Monarchos was the 7-5 favorite while coupled in the betting with third-place finisher Invisible Ink. He has won three in a row after losing the first two starts of his career.

Purchased for $170,000 last year, Monarchos began his winning streak for trainer John Ward with a six-length victory at Gulfstream on Jan. 13, then stretched out and won an allowance race three weeks later by nearly five lengths.

He was just as impressive in Grade I company and is headed to New York for a start in next month’s Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

“If he comes out of this race in good shape, then we’ll ship him there for the Wood,” said Ward, who also trains the brilliant mare Beautiful Pleasure for Oxley. “He was a little upset in the holding area and that had me concerned, but he settled down in the saddling paddock.

“He ran a strong race and was like a bulldog down the stretch. I thought he got a little tired in the last eighth of a mile, but he responded and finished well and that’s what you like to see in a young horse. [Jockey] Jorge [Chavez] said he still had a lot of horse at the end.”

This could be the first of two Derby victories for Oxley, Ward and Chavez, Gulfstream’s runaway leading rider, this weekend. This afternoon in New Orleans, they’ll try to win the $750,000 Louisiana Derby with Hero’s Tribute, whose main competition includes Dollar Bill and Millennium Wind.

Outofthebox, who was best when second in the Fountain Of Youth, finished 2 1/2 lengths clear of Invisible Ink, then came Dream Run, Songandaprayer, the fortunate winner of the Fountain Of Youth; It’s So Simple, You Know Who, Talk Is Money, City Zip, Turnberry Isle, Cee Dee, Trailthefox and Radical Riley.

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Despite D’wildcat’s 10 1/2-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park, trainer Bob Hess Jr. said the Kentucky Derby isn’t being considered for the Forest Wildcat colt.

Making his first start outside California, D’wildcat, the 2-1 second choice ridden by Corey Nakatani, rallied from off the pace to win in 1:22 1/5 for the seven furlongs. Tarek was second, nearly two lengths in front of 9-10 favorite Yonaguska.

D’wildcat is expected to make his next start in either the $500,000 Lone Star Derby on April 7 at Lone Star Park in Texas or the $100,000 Lafayette Stakes on April 11 at Keeneland.

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Hoovergetthekeys, a $32,000 claim out of a maiden race last Sept. 28, won his second consecutive Grade III race, cruising to a decisive victory in the $200,000 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

Taken by trainer Brian Koriner out of a sprint in which the son of Mt. Livermore finished sixth of 10, Hoovergetthekeys sat well off the fast early pace set by San Nicolas and went on to win in 1:40 4/5 for the 1 1/16 miles. The 7-1 shot was ridden by Ron Warren Jr.

This was his third victory in six starts since the claim and came two months after Hoovergetthekeys had won the Golden Gate Derby.

Heavily favored Startac was a nonthreatening second under Alex Solis.