Coach Eddie Barker Says New York-Bredded Multi-Stake Winner by Iris Smith Stable Ship will start next time on April 2nd at Gulfstream Park in the Florida Curlin Derby (G1).
The Shipman Chestnuts, based in Florida, this winter, finished third in the South Tampa Lambholm Bay Derby (G2) on March 12 after finishing second at the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) there. He is currently 15th in the Kentucky Derby standings with 14 points and could take even more in the Florida Derby, the tournament that gives the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) points on the scale. score 100-40-20-10 to take the lead -4 finishers.
“We’re going to run in the Florida Derby. We’re already down here and I think it’s going to be a lot easier to get on. We’ll make our shot there and if we get enough points, fine. “Plan B,” Barker said. “We’ll bring him back in three weeks — the third time since the sacking — and I don’t have to train him hard. If we’re lucky enough to get enough points, it’s five weeks away from the perfect Kentucky Derby.”
Javier Castellano will compete in the Florida Derby, Barker said. Castellano took off as the Shipsational took second place at the Sam F. Davis tournament after a slow start. Manny Franco piloted the Shipsational during the Tampa Bay Derby.
Charge it , Simplify and White Abarrio are the other top three 3-year-olds just to the Florida Derby.
