The 74th running of the Florida Derby is Sat., March 29, 2025 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, FL. ... More
The Road to the Kentucky Derby continues with two of the biggest championship series races on Saturday, March 29. The Florida Derby will draw plenty of watch and wager action on FanDuelTV along with the Arkansas Derby as major points races ahead of the May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The 74th running of the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) drew 10 entries and headlines Saturday’s card at Gulfstream Park that includes 10 stakes races (5 graded).
Fan-favorite race announcer Pete Aiello will call the Florida Derby and all of Saturday’s races at Gulfstream Park.
- $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) - 6:42 p.m. ET, 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park
- $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) - 7:48 p.m. ET, 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park
Last Saturday’s Louisiana Derby saw another longshot winner as Tiztastic (7/1) became the sixth horse at closing parimutuel odds of 7/1 or longer to win a championship series race this year with nine contested thus far. Another 100 points to the winner and 50 points to the runner-up in the Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby will secure the horses a spot in the Kentucky Derby if not yet qualified.
How To Watch And Wager On The Florida Derby
Along with wagering on the biggest races at FanDuel Racing, horse racing fans can tune into FanDuelTV to watch the Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby Saturday. The channel will broadcast racing from Gulfstream Park and Oaklawn Park, along with other tracks featured across FanDuelTV's broadcasts.
The Florida Derby will also be televised on CNBC and streamed on Peacock during a one-hour show as part of NBC Sports’ Road to the Kentucky Derby series. The show will air from 6-7 p.m. ET on Sat., March 29 and the Gulfstream Park Oaks will also be highlighted on Saturday’s show. .
For horse players looking to cash in on exacta and trifecta payouts and big bonus pools in the Pick 5, then get in on the action Saturday for the final weekend of the Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park.
Florida Derby Picks
Along with horse racing coverage and Florida Derby picks on FanDuel, I turned to the experts at Guaranteed Tip Sheet (GTS) and their Florida Derby wagering guide for more insight on the biggest races Saturday at Gulfstream headlined by the $1 million Florida Derby at 1 1/8 miles. Top win contenders are provided, and additional value plays, longshots along with more race details and analysis is available in the wagering guide.
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Race 14 - Florida Derby
- #10 - Sovereignty (8/5)
- #9 - Tappan Street (5/1)
- #1 - Neoequos (10/1)
Value Plays and Longshots: #4 Disruptor (4/1) with jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. & trainer Todd Pletcher makes his stakes debut after winning a pair of maiden races as heavy favorite. #8 Madaket Road (7/2) finished 2nd in the Rebel Stakes for trainer Bob Baffert and HOF jockey Mike Smith rides him for the first time. Madaket Road is the only horse in the Florida Derby to race somewhere other than Gulfstream last out.
Guaranteed Tip Sheet notes that Bill Mott-trained Sovereignty is improving by the race and should creep into contention out of the turn with jockey Manny Franco guiding his surge home with strong late legs. Sovereignty is 2-for-2 in graded stakes starts and went last to first to capture the Fountain of Youth a month ago at Gulfstream. Tappan Street had a wide trip in his last bust should be in a better position early in this race with jockey Luis Saez riding for trainer Brad Cox. Neoequos will head to the front and try to stay there with jockey Edgard Zayas, and he’s perhaps the best value in the race for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. Disruptor cost more than $1 million and could live up to that price tag here.
Sovereignty has posted 99 and 98 Equibase Speed Figures (ESF) in his two stakes races with the Fountain of Youth win earning him 50 points to already qualify for the Kentucky Derby. Madaket Road has the fastest ESF of the runners in this race having posted a 102 in winning the Rebel Stakes. Both Sovereignty and Tappan Street are sons of super sire Into Mischief, who has sired 8 Breeders’ Cup winners and 22 Grade 1 winners with Authentic the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner and Mandaloun the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner on disqualification.
More Florida Derby horses and contenders notes from FanDuel Racing. Seven Florida Derby runners have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby since 2000. Mage, who finished 2nd in the 2023 Florida Derby, was the last horse to come out of Gulfstream Park’s marquee race for 3-year-olds and go on to win the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Oaks Preps
Also, follow the 3-year-old fillies as they compete for points to qualify for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks on May 2. The $250,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) is Race 9 Saturday and seven 3-year-old fillies are entered with a pair of favorites expected to decide the race.
Guaranteed Tip Sheet picks #4 Five G (8/5) to win over #3 The Queen M G (9/5) making her first start over two-turns. Also, #6 Cassiar (5/1) a challenger making her second start with the most upside.
Along with the Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby, more Kentucky Derby Championship Series coverage ahead. The final three 100-point win races are next Saturday, April 5 as horse racing fans enjoy the Derby Trail and try to cash in on the biggest watch and wager races until the Run for the Roses May 3 at Churchill Downs.
You can bet on it.