Jimmy’s Dailys ‘Really Good’ Heading into G1 Florida Derby
At 0h26, on March 29, 2025 • By Gulfstream Park
After seeing the light go on in Owen Almighty’s second try around two turns, trainer Brian Lynch is hoping for a similar type of response from stablemate Jimmy’s Dailys in Saturday’s $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
The 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby for 3-year-olds, one of the country’s premiere Triple Crown preps, anchors a spectacular 14-race program Saturday at Gulfstream Park that features 10 stakes, five graded, worth $2.62 million in purses. Post time is 11:30 a.m.
As a qualifying race for the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1), the Florida Derby offers points to the first five finishers on a 100-50-25-15-10 basis.
Jimmy’s Dailys will be making his fifth career start and stakes debut in the Florida Derby, coming off a runner-up finish to undefeated Grande in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Feb. 27 at Gulfstream. He was ridden that day by Irad Ortiz Jr., who is committed on Disruptor for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the Florida Derby.
“He hung the whole way down the backside and he was on rein and Irad felt like if he could have steered him it could have been a little bit different,” Lynch said of the most recent run. “Hopefully we’ve ironed that kink out. He’s training really good, so we’re excited about running him.”
Jimmy’s Dailys is by Vekoma, a Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs and a mile that was third in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream and second in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G2) in 2019. Earlier this month, Owen Almighty was a front-running 3 ½-length winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) after having run second by a half-length in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis – his first race beyond one mile.
“I think as good as Owen Almighty ran in his second time around two turns, this horse is going to show the same sort of things,” Lynch said. “It’s his second go around two turns, he knows what he’s doing now, [and] he’s a lot fitter for it. We’ll find out what class level he’s at now, whether he can run with these horses and whether we’ve got our [Kentucky] Derby contender.”
Hall of Famer Joel Rosario is named on Jimmy’s Dailys from Post 6 in a field of 10. Tey are rated at 12-1 on the morning line.
