Audible Sounds Final Kentucky Derby Notice In Florida Derby

By Margaret Ransom

China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners and WinStar Farm’s Audible on Saturday silenced any doubters as to whether he was Florida’s leading candidate for the Kentucky Derby (GI) with his three-length victory in the $1 million Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1). In doing so, he provided trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez each with their record fifth wins in Gulfstream Park’s signature Derby prep race and a second in a row, following Always Dreaming’s victory a year ago.

Audible earned 100 points toward making the gate for the Kentucky Derby, bringing his total to 100 and at the top of the leaderboard alongside stablemate Noble Indy, who won last week’s Louisiana Derby (GII).

After a clean break, Velazquez allowed Audible, who previously had preferred to be placed forwardly in the early going, to sit several lengths back and wide, well behind a heated early pace set by Promises Fulfilled, who dueled with… (more)