SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2018 AT THE RAIL: PLETCHER, CASSE & MOTT FLORIDA DERBY The TDN=s Christie DeBernardis is out at Gulfstream this week SHOT CALLER? providing on-site coverage of the GI Florida Derby and she caught up with trainers Todd Pletcher, Mark Casse and Bill Mott Friday morning. Pletcher will saddle the Florida Derby favorite in impressive GII Holy Bull S. winner Audible (Into Mischief) and sends out last term=s Florida Derby/GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) in the GII Gulfstream Park Mile, which is his first start since the Aug. 26 GI Travers S. Casse=s Florida Derby contender is $700,000 FTFMAR buy Mississippi (Pioneerof the Nile), who kicked off this term with a close second to GII Louisiana Derby winner Noble Indy (Take Charge Indy) in a Jan. 11 optional claimer and missed by a neck to the reopposing Storm Runner (Get Stormy) last time in Hallandale Feb. 4. Mott trainee Hofburg (Tapit), a half-brother to MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker), also makes a big jump up in class Saturday. Cont. p4 Audible | Adam Coglianese IN TDN EUROPE TODAY Audible (Into Mischief) heads into Saturday=s GI Xpressbet WEST BEST IN THE EAST? Florida Derby with a full head of steam following a 5 1/2-length West Coast (Flatter) looks to give Bob Baffert a fourth tour-de-force victory while making his two-turn debut in the GII G1 Dubai World Cup, and second straight following Arrogate, Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 3. on Saturday. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN Europe. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the 9-5 morning-line favorite will break on the outside from post eight with John Velazquez in the saddle. The New York-bred has won his last three starts. The Florida Derby has produced three out of the last five GI Kentucky Derby winnersBOrb (Malibu Moon) (2013), Nyquist (Uncle Mo) (2016) and Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) (2017). AWhat he has that, over the years, has proven successful is enough tactical speed to put him in position. What was most impressive in the Holy Bull is how he kicked on after prompting solid fractions,@ said Pletcher, who has saddled Florida Derby winners Materiality (2015), Constitution (2014) and Scat Daddy (2007), as well as the aforementioned Always Dreaming. AHe was able to find another gear.@ Pletcher continued, AThe way he finished at a mile and a sixteenth you wouldn=t think a mile and an eighth would be an issue. He still has to go out and do it. If he can duplicate that performance it shouldn=t be a problem.@ Promises Fulfilled (Shackleford) and >TDN Rising Star= Strike Power (Speightstown), one-two around the track in the GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. here Mar. 3, square off again. 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Nov. 25, lit up the tote board at 18-1 last time. AHe=s just fast and he has great stamina to keep going,@ trainer Dale Romans said. AI wouldn=t want to be someone trying to hook him. He can rate, but it=s not a matter of rating. He=s going to go to the lead. We=re not changing anything now.@ The rail-drawn Strike Power was perfect in two prior trips to the post around one turn, headed by a sharp score in the GIII Swale S. in Hallandale Feb. 3. AIt was a natural progression going from seven-eighths to a mile and a sixteenth. I thought he handled it well,@ trainer Mark Hennig said. AThe main thing I didn=t want him to do was to get caught up in a speed duel and I thought he settled well. He settles well when you=re trying to work with him. I don=t know about rating in this spot. We=ll see how he breaks and see what happens.@ Catholic Boy (More Than Ready), an impressive winner of last fall=s GII Remsen S. at the Big A while making his first start on dirt, kicked off his sophomore campaign with a runner-up finish in Tampa=s GIII Sam F. Davis S. Feb. 10. " " " CAN’T WAIT TO GET YOUR TDN BREAKING NEWS AND RACE RESULTS? Click Here to sign up for TDN Alerts TDN HEADLINE NEWS • PAGE 4 OF 10 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • MARCH 31, 2018 At the Rail cont. from p1 Fourth on debut sprinting at Saratoga in September, the Juddmonte homebred enters off a half-length graduation in his first try around two turns at Gulfstream Mar. 3. TODD PLETCHER Todd Pletcher | Sarah Andrew How do you feel about Audible coming into the race? AI feel good. He had a nice gallop this morning at Palm Beach Downs before shipping to Gulfstream. He was in good spirits, full of energy and settled in well at Gulfstream. What are your thoughts on his post (eight of nine)? AI would prefer to be a little more inside, but we have no control over post position, so we will make the best of it. Hopefully he breaks alertly and John Velazquez is able to get him into a position where he doesn=t lose too much ground in the first turn.@ How do you think he will handle the distance? AThe way he finished at a mile and a sixteenth, a mile and an eighth shouldn=t be a problem. He was very explosive the last sixteenth of a mile in the Holy Bull and that would give you optimism that he could handle a mile and an eighth.@ How is Always Dreaming doing ahead of this return to the races? AHe has been training very well and enthusiastically. He looks fantastic and has filled out nicely. He looks like a 4-year-old that has made that transition the way you would want one to. It is always concerning when you are bringing a horse back off a layoff and running against some accomplished horses that have NEW YORK RACING ASSOCIATION 2018-19 STARTER LOYALTY PROGRAM Beginning Monday April 2, 2018, The New York Racing Association will award owners and trainers for any horse making multiple starts as listed below at all NYRA tracks. Loyalty should be rewarded and we appreciate the ongoing support of our horsemen. 2018-19 Loyalty Program will start Monday, April 2, 2018 and run through Monday, April 1, 2019 NYRA Silver - Starts 5 & 6 (at NYRA Tracks) NYRA Gold – Starts 7, 8 & 9 (at NYRA Tracks) NYRA Platinum – Starts 10 &11 (at NYRA Tracks) NYRA Diamond – Starts 12 and higher (at NYRA Tracks) Silver members will run for 5% more purse money. Gold members will run for 7.5% more purse money. Platinum members will run for 12.5% more purse money. Diamond Members will run for 15% more purse money. STARTER LOYALTY PROGRAM RULES • Award monies will only be offered in winners races (no maiden races). • Award monies will be paid on finish positions1st through 5th. • Award monies will not be paid on maiden races.