Anne Marie Duff

AMERICAN action this weekend centres on Gulfstream and the Fair Grounds with the Florida and Louisiana Derbys up for decision. Expect Gunnevera to bring a late run on his final prep race for Kentucky in the $1 million Grade 1 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. (ATR 11.40pm).

The Florida Derby produced the Kentucky Derby winner in 2013, with Orb, and last year, with Nyquist.

Trained by Antonio Sano, the son of Dialed In has been installed as morning line favourite with regular rider Javier Castellano but will have to overcome the far outside stall in the nine-furlong race.

The race offers points on a 100 points to the winner for a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

Gunnevera posted last-to-first wins in the graded Saratoga Special and Delta Jackpot last year but finished a disappointing fifth in his only Grade 1 attempt. He opened this season with second place in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream and improved four weeks later in March in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, rallying powerfully to score going away by over five lengths.

Always Dreaming is second favourite. The Bodemeister colt returned from a lengthy layoff to beat maidens at Tampa Bay Downs, by over 11 lengths in late January, then made all in an allowance to win by four lengths in early March, and retains the services of John Velazquez.

Tampa Bay Derby runner-up State Of Honor and the Fountain of Youth Stakes third Three Rules come next in the betting. State Of Honor was behind Derby contender Tapwrit in the Tampa Bay Derby and Sam F. Davis. Trainer Mark Casse removes the blinkers and he has Julien Leparoux in the saddle. Three Rules is drawn one stall to the inside of Gunnevera and promises to show speed early.

Impressive Edge will make his two-turn debut for Dale Romans off a runaway eight-length victory in a seven furlong allowance race.

Also on the card, Moyglare Stud’s Celestine lines up in the Grade 2 Honey Fox where she will go off favourite after a win at Gulfstream last time.

FAIR GROUNDS

Also tonight, the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby takes place at the Fair Grounds with track winner of the Risen Star Stakes, the Joe Sharp trained Girvin the favourite over maiden winner Patch from the Todd Pletcher stable and Local Hero from Steve Asmussen’s yard who was third in the Risen Star.

The Fair Grounds Oaks has Farrell, one of the promising three-year-old fillies, as its favourite. Trained by Wayne Catalano, she comes on a three-race winning streak including a Grade 2 here last time.

Also on the card, for older horses are the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Handicap and the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap with Mark Casse’s Grade 1 winner Noble Bird the favourite.