Stakes History: Florida Derby

Since 1990, the Florida Derby has produced 5 horses who have gone onto win the Run for the Roses, however there have been several horses who have come out of this race to do some great things. Lets take a look at a few of them. (Note: Yes I'm skipping a few of them, but that's because I have some features on those horses coming up in the next few weeks leading up to the Derby).

1964: Northern Dancer (Nearctic)- What can be said about him. Lets see after his FL Derby win he won almost every race he ran in. KY Derby, Preakness, came up short in the Belmont, but also won the Queen's Plate (Canada's most important race). He was named Champion 3yo in both the US and Canada, as well as HOY in Canada. Of course he became one of the most important sires in the world with such horses as Danzig, Saddler's Wells, Storm Bird and many others.

1967: In Reality (Intentionally)- There are not that many horses that carry the great Man O' War on their sire's side, he is one of them. After winning the FL Derby, he went to the Preakness finishing second to Damascus. As a four year old, he won both the Carter and the Met Mile. He would go onto to sire BC Sprint winner Smile, multiple champion Desert Vixen, and Relaunch who keeps the line alive through his grandson 2 time BCC winner Tiznow.

1986: Swale (Seattle Slew)- A life taken too soon. While he won the KY Derby (after a runner up finish in the Lexington) and Belmont, he passed away only 8 days later after his bath. He would be honored posthumously wth the 3yo Championship, and Gulfstream would name a race after him. The Swale Stakes was won this year by Trinniburg.

1987: Cryptoclearence (Fappiano)- He had the unfortantence of being born in the same year as Alysheba (whose sire Alydar won this race in 1978). 4th in the Derby, 3rd in the Preakness and 2nd in the Belmont. He won the Hawthorne Gold Cup three times, and finished fifth in the BCC three times. As a sire, he would finally find the winners circle in the TC with Victory Gallop (98 Belmont). He also sired Volponi who shocked everyone by winning the 2002 BCC.

1990: Unbridled (Fappiano)- Just 3 years after Cryptoclearnence, he would give his sire his second FL Derby win. Of course, his KY Derby win is memorable with his trainer Carl Nafzger describing his win to his owner Francis Genter who was blind. He followed up that Derby win with a win in the BCC. Much like Northern Dancer, he became an excellent sire. Unbridled's Song, Empire Maker, Eddington, Banshee Breeze, and Halfbridled are just a few of his great foals.

1998: Cape Town (Seeking the Gold)- His dam was a KY Oaks winner and his sire was one of the best. His TC run was okay with a 5th in the Derby and 9th in the Preakness, but he never ran again after that. As a sire, he has KY Oaks winner and 3yo Champion Filly Bird Town.

2003: Empire Maker (Unbridled)- He was the one that would break the streak. The one that finally gave Bobby Frankel his KY Derby win. The beautifully bred colt would follow up his FL Derby win with a win in the Wood Memorial. Of course when it came to the big dance, the Wood runner up Funny Cide would spoil the party, but even with a bad foot he was able to hold off his stablemate Peace Rules for the runner up spot. He would turn the tables on the Gutsy Gelding with a win in the Belmont before finishing his career with a runner up finish in the Jim Dandy. While he hasn't produced a big horse for his owners who sent him to Japan recently, he has several solid horses. They include KY Derby runner up Pioneerof the Nile, Country Star, as well as BC Ladies Classic winner and 3yo Champion Filly Royal Delta.

2006: Barbaro (Dyanaformer)- In only his second race on dirt, he was able to hold off a challenge from Sharp Humor to win the FL Derby. That sent him into the KY Derby off a 5 week layoff, to try to do something that no horse since Needles could, win the race. Oh boy did he did, pulling away from the field to win by a comfortable margin. Of course his Preakness was struck by tragedy and his gallant battle through laminitis remains an inspiration to many around the world. His little brother Lentenor finished fourth in the 2010 edition.