Sovereignty Targets Florida Derby and a Direct Ticket to the Kentucky Derby

Godolphin’s Sovereignty takes on Madaket Road, Disruptor, and Tappan Street this saturday at Gulfstream Park; argentine Jockey Jorge Ruiz Díaz to ride Indecisiveness

Sovereignty arrives off Fountain of Youth victory / ADAM COGLIANESE

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL (Special for Turf Diario)—The Curlin Florida Derby (G1, 1 1/8 miles, dirt, $1,000,000 purse), one of the most pivotal stepping stones toward the Kentucky Derby (G1), takes center stage this Saturday at Gulfstream Park, generating widespread anticipation. As the Championship Meet’s marquee race, it is expected to produce a top contender for the opening leg of the Triple Crown, and among the 10 confirmed runners, Sovereignty appears a cut above the rest.

There was a late jockey switch for Godolphin’s standout, as Manuel Franco takes over the ride from the injured Junior Alvarado. Trained by Bill Mott, the son of Into Mischief has done little wrong so far, breaking his maiden last October in the Street Sense Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs before making a winning seasonal debut four months later in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) with a powerful late surge.

In that effort, Sovereignty reeled in River Thames (Maclean’s Music) in the closing strides to prevail by a neck, and fortunately for him, that formidable rival will not be in the gate this time.

His toughest challenger could be Madaket Road (Quality Road), shipping in from the West Coast for Bob Baffert. After breaking his maiden at Santa Anita Park late last year, he followed up with a third-place finish in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) and a runner-up effort in the Rebel Stakes (G2).

The team of Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr., and Mike Repole has high hopes for Disruptor, a son of Gun Runner who rebounded from a third-place debut to score a devastating 9 1/4-length victory over this track. He now faces a two-turn test as he stretches from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, but his connections are confident in his ability to handle the challenge.

Trainer Brad Cox, along with Luis Sáez, is looking for a breakthrough with Tappan Street (Into Mischief), a $1,000,000 yearling purchase. After an impressive debut win, he ran second in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in early January and will now try to step up once again.

Argentine jockey Jorge Ruiz Díaz will also be part of the Florida Derby field, partnering with longshot Indecisiveness(Decisive Moment).