Tappan Street gives Brad Cox first 2025 Florida Derby win, ready for Kentucky Derby race.

- Trainer Brad Cox didn’t hesitate when asked about his plans for Tappan Street moving forward following his second-place finish in the Grade 3 Holy Bull here on Feb. 1. He immediately declared his intention to skip the Fountain of Youth and train his lightly raced Kentucky Derby candidate up to the $1 million Florida Derby eight weeks later.

The strategy paid big dividends when Tappan Street rallied from off the pace to a 1 1/4-length victory over the Fountain of Youth winner and 8-5 favorite Sovereignty in Saturday’s nine-furlong Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The performance guarantees Tappan Street a berth in the Kentucky Derby field five weeks down the road, at Churchill Downs, on May 3.

Tappan Street benefitted from a perfectly orchestrated trip by regular rider Luis Saez, after breaking alertly from post 9 in a race lengthened 53 feet from previous years. That policy was instituted in an effort to mitigate the potential dangers, with such a short run to the first turn, in 1 1/16-mile and 1 1/8-mile races over the main track at Gulfstream Park.

Tappan Street, who earned 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and was awarded a 94 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory, is a son of Into Mischief owned in partnership by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and Cold Press Racing. He completed the nine furlongs in 1:49.27 seconds over the fast track and paid $6.80 as the second choice in the wagering.

Sovereignty is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $1 million, Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

The Florida Derby will offer 200 qualifying points — including 100 to the winner — toward the Kentucky Derby.

Trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty opened his 3-year-old campaign by winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 1 at Gulfstream. The son of Into Mischief will be ridden by Junior Alvarado and drew the outside post in the field of 10.

How to watch 2025 Florida Derby: Post time

Date: Saturday, March 29

Post time: 6:42 p.m. EDT Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.

Fund, Purse: $1 million.

Grade: 1. Distance: 1 ⅛ miles.

Jockey weight: 122 pounds.

TV Channel: CNBC/FanDuel TV.

Live streaming: Peacock

Kentucky Derby qualifying points: 100 for first place, 50 for second place, 25 for third place, 15 for fourth place, 10 for fifth place.

2025 Florida Derby post positions, field, jockeys, trainers, morning-line odds

PP Horse, jockey, trainer, odds

1. Neoequos, Edgard Zayas, Saffie Joseph Jr., 10-1

2. Cool Intentions, Javier Castellano, Jorge Delgado, 20-1

3. Smoken Boy, Edgar Perez, Cheryl Winebaugh, 30-1

4. Disruptor, Irad Ortiz Jr., Todd Pletcher, 4-1

5. Indecisiveness, Jorge Ruiz, Ruben Sierra, 30-1

6. Jimmy’s Dailys, Joel Rosario, Brian Lynch, 12-1

7. Enterdadragon, Dylan Davis, Jose D’Angelo, 30-1

8. Madaket Road, Tyler Gaffalione, Bob Baffert, 7-2

9. Tappan Street, Luis Saez, Brad Cox, 5-1

10. Sovereignty, Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott, 8-5

What is the 2025 Kentucky Derby post time?

While not yet official, the post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby will be about 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.

How to watch 2025 Kentucky Derby

Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.

The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.

You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.

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