A highly significant preparatory competition leading up to the Kentucky Derby, sponsored by Woodford Reserve, is scheduled to take place at Gulfstream Park. This venue will feature the Grade 1, one-million-dollar Curlin Florida Derby, sponsored by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa.
The victor of this contest will accumulate 100 points towards eligibility for the Kentucky Derby. The second-place participant will receive 50 points, the third-place finisher 25, the fourth-place contender 15, and the fifth-place horse 10 points.
This event has been hosted at Gulfstream Park since it began in 1952, consistently run over 1 ⅛ miles on a dirt track. It achieved Grade 1 status in 1973. A total of fifteen Florida Derby champions have subsequently claimed victory in the Kentucky Derby, with Always Dreaming in 2017 being the most recent to achieve this dual success. Twenty-six participants emerging from the Florida Derby have triumphed in the Kentucky Derby, a higher number than any other preparatory race, with Sovereignty in 2025 as the latest example. Sovereignty leveraged a second-place finish in the Florida Derby as a springboard to win the Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Travers Stakes.
However, this particular article concentrates on Florida Derby champions. Let’s revisit some of the most outstanding victors of an event boasting an exceptionally distinguished past, featuring numerous genuine titans of horse racing.
NASHUA (1955)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 30 starts, 22 victories, 4 runner-up finishes, 1 third-place finish
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $1,288,565
Nashua was destined for prominence from his birth. He was bred and raced by Bel Air Stud, a major force in American horse racing during that era. His sire, Nasrullah, had recently arrived from Europe, where he was a top breeding stallion, and subsequently profoundly influenced American bloodlines.
In his inaugural racing year, Nashua earned year-end accolades as champion 2-year-old male, securing four stakes wins, including a hard-fought head victory in the Futurity Stakes. His Hall of Fame conditioner, “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, sent him to Florida to commence preparations for the Kentucky Derby. He triumphed in an allowance race at Hialeah Park, then captured the Flamingo Stakes at the same track. On both occasions, he struggled to maintain a straight course in the stretch, which raised some concerns among observers. Many believed he lost focus once he gained the lead, suggesting this might pose future challenges. Nevertheless, he was heavily favored at 9-10 odds in the Florida Derby. The track conditions turned sloppy on race day, introducing a new hurdle for the colt, who had previously only competed on fast surfaces.
It was a difficult contest, but Nashua emerged victorious. Typically positioned near the front early on, he found himself in fifth place, 6 ½ lengths behind, during the initial stages. As he approached the far turn, jockey Eddie Arcaro urged Nashua to accelerate, and he responded. In the stretch, he advanced alongside the early leader, First Cabin, then overtook that competitor just past the eighth pole. Despite a strong late challenge from Blue Lem, Arcaro maintained his mount’s focus, and Nashua crossed the finish line a neck ahead.
Following a win in the Wood Memorial Stakes, Nashua entered Kentucky Derby day as the overwhelming favorite but finished second, bested by the rising California challenger, Swaps. Nashua went on to secure victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Swaps returned to California and dominated his rivals there, setting the stage for a highly anticipated match race at Washington Park in Chicago on August 31. Although Swaps was heavily favored, Nashua avenged his Kentucky Derby loss with a decisive 6 ½-length triumph. This victory solidified his recognition as the 1955 Horse of the Year.
CARRY BACK (1961)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 61 starts, 21 victories, 11 runner-up finishes, 11 third-place finishes
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $1,241,165
Unlike Nashua, Carry Back originated from modest circumstances. He was a Florida-bred, sired by the unremarkable stallion Saggy, possessed a slender build, and weighed under 1,000 pounds.
As a two-year-old, Carry Back competed in an impressive 21 races, achieving five wins. His most significant triumph occurred in the Garden State Stakes at Garden State Park, which was the nation’s wealthiest race at that period. That victory secured him a second-place ranking in the balloting for champion two-year-old male and established him as a leading contender for the Kentucky Derby.
Owner Katherine Price and her spouse, breeder-trainer Jack Price, opted to prepare Carry Back for the Kentucky Derby within their home state. He won the Everglades Stakes and Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah, then unexpectedly lost in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. Despite that setback, Carry Back was the 8-5 favorite among the eight-horse field for the Florida Derby.
As was his custom, jockey Johnny Sellers kept Carry Back well behind the early pace. He initiated his surge as they turned for home but remained two lengths adrift of the leading Crozier in the stretch. Sellers urged Carry Back for maximum effort, and the resilient colt responded. He accelerated to a head victory on a sloppy track, akin to the conditions under which he had won the Garden State Stakes.
The Florida Derby success made Carry Back the generally acknowledged favorite for the Kentucky Derby. His diminutive size, humble origins, and thrilling racing style garnered him widespread popular support beyond merely betting. In the Kentucky Derby, he fulfilled expectations, rallying from a distant position to win by half a length.
After his Preakness Stakes win, he was widely expected to become the ninth Triple Crown champion. Regrettably, he sustained an injury during that race and finished seventh, 15 lengths behind. Carry Back returned to competition several months later and maintained his strong form, earning champion 3-year-old male honors before securing major stakes victories as a 4- and 5-year-old.
NORTHERN DANCER (1964)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 18 starts, 14 victories, 2 runner-up finishes, 2 third-place finishes
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $580,647
Northern Dancer was bred and owned by E.P. Taylor, a foundational figure in Canadian Thoroughbred racing. Taylor established the Jockey Club of Canada and the new Woodbine racetrack in 1956. Taylor’s Thoroughbred interests included his Windfields Farm breeding operation. It was there that Northern Dancer, a son of the 1958 Canadian Horse of the Year Nearctic, was foaled.
Northern Dancer dominated his Canadian contemporaries as a 2-year-old, securing three stakes victories in Canada. He was transferred to New York towards the end of 1963, winning the Remsen Stakes by two lengths.
Upon his arrival in Florida for his 3-year-old season, Northern Dancer claimed the Flamingo Stakes, winning by two lengths under Bill Shoemaker, despite drifting inward during the stretch. Following that triumph and a subsequent allowance victory, Northern Dancer was the 3-10 favorite in the eight-horse Florida Derby field.
Shoemaker guided him expertly, patiently stalking longshot leader Greek Episode in the initial stages. As that competitor began to fade on the far turn, Shoemaker signaled his mount to take the lead. Despite being pressed by The Scoundrel in the stretch, Northern Dancer maintained his advantage over his rivals, crossing the finish line a length ahead.
Northern Dancer subsequently won the Blue Grass Stakes before heading to the Kentucky Derby with a different jockey. Shoemaker opted to ride the heavily favored Hill Rise, leading Bill Hartack to take the reins on Northern Dancer. In a dramatic concluding sprint, Northern Dancer narrowly defeated Hill Rise by a neck, establishing a new stakes and track record of 2:00.
After a Preakness win, Northern Dancer had an opportunity to secure the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes, but he finished a distant third behind Quadrangle. Although his racing career concluded not long thereafter, Northern Dancer’s most significant impact was made in the breeding shed. He sired an unprecedented 147 stakes winners, encompassing champions in both North America and Europe. Arguably his most celebrated offspring, Nijinsky II, achieved the English Triple Crown in 1970. He was also renowned as an exceptional sire of sires, with progeny such as Nureyev, Lyphard, Storm Bird, Sadler’s Wells, and Danzig, among many others, going on to significant stud success themselves.
ALYDAR (1978)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 26 starts, 14 victories, 9 runner-up finishes, 1 third-place finish
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $957,195
A magnificent colt in his own right, Alydar had the unfortunate circumstance of encountering another champion, Affirmed, throughout his two-year-old and three-year-old racing seasons. The pair competed against each other six times in 1977, with Affirmed claiming victory in four of those encounters. To prepare for their respective Kentucky Derby attempts, the two horses journeyed to opposite sides of the nation. While Affirmed headed to California, trainer John Veitch dispatched Alydar, owned and bred by the prestigious Calumet Farm, to Florida.
Alydar’s three-year-old campaign commenced smoothly with an effortless win in an allowance race at Hialeah, followed by a decisive 4 ½-length triumph in the Flamingo Stakes. For the Florida Derby, Alydar was the 3-10 favorite against a field of six adversaries, including Believe It, who had bested Alydar the previous autumn in the Remsen Stakes.
Alydar vindicated his earlier defeat that afternoon, staying close to the pace and accelerating clear in the stretch for a two-length victory. His finishing time of 1:47 was the second-fastest in Florida Derby history, missing the track record by a mere one-fifth of a second. Believe It presented a challenge to Alydar in the stretch, but ultimately finished second, 7 ½ lengths ahead of the remaining horses.
Following a commanding victory in the Blue Grass Stakes, Alydar (at 11-10 odds) was favored over Affirmed (9-5) in the Kentucky Derby. However, Affirmed triumphed by half a length, with Alydar closing strongly after falling well behind early. Alydar subsequently lost the Preakness Stakes by a neck to Affirmed, then engaged in a thrilling Belmont Stakes battle with his familiar adversary. Although the two fought fiercely in the stretch, Affirmed won by a head to secure the Triple Crown.
Alydar obtained a measure of retribution in their final contest in the Travers Stakes. Affirmed crossed the finish line 1 ¾ lengths ahead but was disqualified for impeding Alydar on the final turn. Sidelined by injury for the remainder of his three-year-old season, Alydar returned as a four-year-old but won only one stakes race and was retired before he could again compete against Affirmed.
SPECTACULAR BID (1979)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 30 starts, 26 victories, 2 runner-up finishes, 1 third-place finish
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $2,781,608
Spectacular Bid appeared invincible during the 1979 Kentucky Derby lead-up. He was honored as the champion 2-year-old male the preceding year, having secured five stakes victories. In his initial two starts as a 3-year-old, he triumphed by a cumulative margin of 12 ¼ lengths. There was little doubt that the Florida Derby would be anything but an easy win for him, and he was dispatched as the 1-20 favorite.
His race was fraught with challenges. At the start, he swerved inward and collided with the gate’s side. He quickly recovered but was impeded on the first turn, then jockey Ron Franklin hurried him along the backstretch to catch the leaders. Instead of advancing on the outside, Franklin attempted to guide him along the rail, necessitating another check due to insufficient space. He then pulled him back before moving him four-wide as they entered the stretch, where Spectacular Bid pulled away for a comfortable victory. “The Bid” won by 4 ½ lengths, but the margin could have been considerably larger had he not faced so much congestion.
A champion at both two and three years old, Spectacular Bid demonstrated his peak performance as a 4-year-old, completing a flawless 9-for-9 Horse of the Year campaign that featured a world-record display in the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
The Bid secured victories in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, being an overwhelming favorite on both occasions, and a Triple Crown triumph seemed all but assured. Following another challenging race, he faded to finish third in the Belmont Stakes. A champion at both 2 and 3, Spectacular Bid did his best work as a 4-year-old with a perfect 9-for-9 Horse of the Year campaign that included a world-record performance in the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
SWALE (1984)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 14 starts, 9 victories, 2 runner-up finishes, 2 third-place finishes
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $1,583,660
Esteemed trainer Woody Stephens appeared to hold a commanding position heading into the 1984 Kentucky Derby preparations. He conditioned Swale, an imposing black colt owned and bred by Claiborne Farm. Swale captured four graded stakes as a 2-year-old, three of which were by a head or less.
However, he was overshadowed in public perception, including by his trainer, by the brilliant Devil’s Bag. Devil’s Bag was undefeated in five starts as a 2-year-old, with three stakes wins, notably a stunning six-length victory in the Champagne Stakes. On that day, he completed a mile in 1:34 ⅕, establishing a new stakes record. Designated champion 2-year-old male, Devil’s Bag placed second in the voting for Horse of the Year and was syndicated for an unprecedented $36 million. Stephens sent both colts to Florida, considering Swale the secondary prospect and planning to keep them separate until the Kentucky Derby.
The media extensively covered Devil’s Bag’s every move that winter, to the extent that the New York Times ran a regular feature tracking his progress. He won his 3-year-old debut impressively but astonishingly finished fourth in the Flamingo Stakes as the 3-10 favorite. Despite this loss, Stephens maintained that Devil’s Bag was the nation’s premier 3-year-old, and continued to downplay Swale’s prospects.
Swale garnered little attention when he won the Hutcheson Handicap by eight lengths, four days after the Flamingo, and subsequently placed a surprising third in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. Perhaps unsettled by the prior defeat, bettors backed him as the 2.70-1 second choice in the Florida Derby. Dr. Carter, a highly regarded colt who had finished second in the Flamingo, was made the favorite. Swale acquired a new jockey for the Florida Derby after his regular rider, Eddie Maple, committed to riding Devil’s Bag. Laffit Pincay Jr. took over the ride on the talented Claiborne colt instead.
Swale rebounded forcefully in the Florida Derby. He tracked Fountain of Youth winner Darn the Alarm in the early stages, then seized command in the stretch as the pace-setter tired. Dr. Carter drew alongside, mounting a strong challenge in the stretch. In a dramatic head-to-head contest, Swale ultimately gained the advantage, winning by half a length in 1:47 ⅗, which marked the fastest Florida Derby time since Alydar.
Devil’s Bag sustained a career-ending injury just before the Kentucky Derby, leaving Swale as Stephens’ primary hope. He delivered a career-best performance on the first Saturday in May, pulling away in the stretch for an impressive 3 ¼-length victory, securing Stephens his second Derby win. After a disappointing Preakness Stakes, Swale captured the Belmont Stakes by four lengths in an enthralling, gate-to-wire effort. He ran both the first and second halves of the race in an identical time of 1:13 ⅖, an uncommon feat for any race. Tragically, Swale passed away from a suspected heart attack eight days after his Belmont victory.
UNBRIDLED (1990)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 24 starts, 8 victories, 6 runner-up finishes, 6 third-place finishes
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $4,489,475
Unbridled presented an inconsistent profile leading up to the 1990 Florida Derby. The Florida-bred colt had secured only one stakes victory and most recently finished third, beaten by half a length, in a Fountain of Youth Stakes race hampered by traffic. He appeared to possess considerable promise but had yet to fully demonstrate his capabilities. In a betting race with no clear favorite, Unbridled was offered at 5-2 odds, tying as the second choice, in the 1990 Florida Derby.
Pat Day, riding the colt for the second time, positioned him in the middle of the pack, conserving energy off a modest pace. Approaching the final turn, he made contact with favored Roanoke, then accelerated away to a convincing four-length triumph.
Following a third-place result in the Blue Grass Stakes, Unbridled was regarded as an underdog entering the Kentucky Derby. Blue Grass winner Summer Squall and Mister Frisky, a California entrant via Puerto Rico, were the preferred choices, while Unbridled was 10.80-1 under jockey Craig Perret, who replaced Pat Day as Day was committed to Summer Squall.
Perret’s mount, however, performed superiorly on Derby day. He launched his bid from mid-pack, executed a powerful move for the lead on the turn, and subsequently surged past Summer Squall, drawing clear to a 3 ½-length victory. He became the inaugural Derby winner for owner Frances Genter and trainer Carl Nafzger.
Later in his three-year-old season, Unbridled added another significant win to his accomplishments. With Day back aboard, he navigated his way through the field to claim the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He stands as one of only four horses to win both the Derby and the Classic in the same year.
HOLY BULL (1994)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 16 starts, 13 victories, 0 runner-up finishes, 0 third-place finishes
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $2,481,760
This swift gray Florida-bred colt had a point to demonstrate leading into the 1994 Florida Derby. As a two-year-old, “the Bull” was flawless, winning all four of his starts, notably defeating two-year-old champion Dehere in the Futurity Stakes. Holy Bull began his three-year-old campaign with a victory in the Hutcheson Stakes, but experienced a palate displacement in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, which caused breathing difficulties. Consequently, he finished a well-defeated sixth.
In a 14-horse Florida Derby field, Holy Bull was the 2.70-1 second betting choice, trailing only the future Kentucky Derby victor, Go for Gin. Mike Smith sent Holy Bull directly to the front, establishing exceptionally quick sectional times of 22.52 seconds for the initial quarter-mile and 46.16 seconds for the first half-mile. Despite this rapid pace, no competitor managed to challenge Holy Bull closely as he won by 5 ¾ lengths. Immediately thereafter, Holy Bull emerged as the Kentucky Derby favorite.
Following a similarly commanding Blue Grass Stakes victory, Holy Bull was the 2.20-1 favorite in the “run for the roses.” A sluggish start and a wet racing surface severely hampered his prospects, leading him to a distant 12th-place finish. Nevertheless, Holy Bull became indomitable for the remainder of that year. He secured five consecutive graded stakes wins, including a remarkably fast Metropolitan Handicap, an exceptionally courageous Travers Stakes, and a stunning five-length triumph in the Woodward Stakes, culminating a season that earned him an Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year.
BIG BROWN (2008)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 8 starts, 7 victories, 0 runner-up finishes, 0 third-place finishes
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $3,614,500
Big Brown entered the Kentucky Derby pathway unexpectedly. He achieved his maiden victory at Saratoga in 2007 on turf and was initially slated to commence his 3-year-old season in a first-level allowance race on that same surface at Gulfstream Park. However, weather conditions intervened, forcing the race to be relocated to the dirt due to rain. Trainer Rick Dutrow opted to keep him in the contest regardless, a decision that proved astute. He decisively defeated the field by 12 ¾ lengths, prompting some observers to label him a significant Kentucky Derby prospect even though he had not yet competed in a stakes race.
Big Brown faced his true examination in the Florida Derby. He was the 3-2 favorite despite drawing the outermost post position in a 12-horse lineup. Jockey Kent Desormeaux aggressively urged him to the front, positioning him near the inside lead by the completion of the first quarter-mile. He maintained his leading position from that point, widening his advantage over the field as they rounded the second turn. With only slight encouragement, Big Brown crossed the finish line five lengths ahead, dispelling any skepticism and solidifying his status as the undisputed Kentucky Derby favorite.
At Churchill Downs, Big Brown again drew the outside post in a 20-horse field and was compelled to race from slightly behind the leaders while wide. Despite these impediments, he pulled clear and won by 4 ¾ lengths. Following a similarly commanding Preakness Stakes victory, a Triple Crown sweep seemed inevitable; however, he was eased after a wide journey and did not complete the race.
NYQUIST (2016)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 11 starts, 8 victories, 0 runner-up finishes, 1 third-place finish
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $5,189,200
Owner Paul Reddam, trainer Doug O’Neill, and jockey Mario Gutierrez collaborated to secure the Kentucky Derby victory in 2012 with I’ll Have Another. Several years thereafter, it appeared they possessed another formidable Derby contender when Nyquist was acclaimed the champion 2-year-old male of 2015, following an unblemished season in which he triumphed in four stakes races.
After winning the San Vicente Stakes at Santa Anita Park to commence his 3-year-old campaign, O’Neill decided to dispatch him eastward for a bid in the Florida Derby. Despite his notable reputation, Nyquist was not the favored entry. Mohaymen, fresh off a victory in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, was the 4-5 favorite, while Nyquist was the 6-5 second choice.
Nyquist emphatically quieted all skeptics in the Florida Derby. Gutierrez placed him at the front early on, despite facing pressure from two longshot competitors. Nyquist shrugged off his challengers and powered clear to a 3 ¼-length victory, while Mohaymen struggled to finish fourth.
Five weeks subsequently, Nyquist achieved a historic feat by winning the Kentucky Derby by 1 ¼ lengths. In doing so, he became the first horse to claim both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby since Street Sense in 2007.
WHITE ABARRIO (2022)
COMPETITIVE RECORD: 25 starts – 10 victories, 3 runner-up finishes, 3 third-place finishes
LIFETIME PRIZE MONEY: $7,713,920
White Abarrio displayed early promise during his two-year-old campaign, commencing his career with consecutive emphatic victories. He surged to a 6 ¾-length runaway in his initial career start and subsequently led from beginning to end for a four-length win in his second outing. He concluded his juvenile season with a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, which was his first attempt against stakes-level competition under trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.
The gray or roan colt by Race Day made his inaugural start as a three-year-old in the Holy Bull Stakes, decisively announcing his presence on the 2022 Kentucky Derby trail. He established a commanding lead in the stretch under new jockey Tyler Gaffalione, powering to a 4 ½-length victory at 6-1 odds.
White Abarrio followed this with another clear triumph in the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa, a 1 1/4-length win that solidified him as one of the prime contenders for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. However, while Rich Strike delivered a stunning upset at 80.80-1 odds on May 7, 2022, White Abarrio played a minimal role and concluded the race in 16th place out of 20.
White Abarrio did not secure another victory in 2022—he finished second in the Grade 2 Ohio Derby and third by half a length in the Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets—but he recaptured his top-tier form as a four-year-old in 2023 after being transferred to trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. White Abarrio triumphed in the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes by six lengths in August and subsequently achieved a one-length win in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic during a season where he won three of five starts and was nominated for Horse of the Year. White Abarrio continued his training in 2024 but won only one allowance race in four starts, though he began to regain his peak performance towards the end of the season while back under the guidance of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. Subsequently, White Abarrio launched his six-year-old season in 2025 spectacularly with a record-breaking 6 1/4-length victory in the $2,945,400 Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes on January 25 at Gulfstream Park, followed by a win in the Ghostzapper Stakes presented by FanDuel TV. In 2026, White Abarrio placed second in his attempt to repeat his Pegasus World Cup victory.
