WinStar Farm, CHCH Inc., and Cold Press Racing’s Kentucky-bred Tappan Street registered a stylish win in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, March 29. With the 1 ¼-length win, Tappan Street, a son of Into Mischief, earned 100 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
After finishing second in the Holy Bull S. (G3), Tappan Street was withheld from the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) at Gulfstream in favor of returning eight weeks later in the 74th running of the Triple Crown prep. Florida Derby starters have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby 25 times and have collected 60 victories in Triple Crown races. Trained by Brad Cox, Luiz Saez piloted the winner.
“This is a step forward today,” said Cox. “His numbers in his first two starts were really good. I felt like the two-month lead up to the Florida Derby would propel him forward.”
Tappan Street broke alertly, grabbing a favorable stalking position behind pacesetter Madaket Road. On the far turn, Tappan Street advanced toward the leaders with race favorite Sovereignty right behind him after shaking free of traffic. Tappan Street hit the front and put away the pacesetters in the lane. He drew away smartly to record his first stakes victory. He ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.27. Sovereignty also put in a solid stretch run to finish second.
Tappan Street Steps Up
“Anytime you have a young horse like this, and you give them eight weeks between starts, it’s always a concern,” shared Cox. “But this is a very smart horse. He’s intelligent. I thought he would break very, very well today the way he was training, and he did. That put him in the race and put him in a great position.”
“Luis was very high on him after he broke his maiden,” he added. “He was very high on him after the Holy Bull. He had a lot of confidence in him, and it all came together today.”
Bred in Kentucky by Blue Heaven Farm, the Florida Derby winner was a $1 million graduate of the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.