Undefeated Souper Forces to Give Best in Tropical Park Derby

Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Forces will bring an unblemished record into Saturday’s $125,000 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park with little fanfare.

“He’s one of those kind of horses that blends into the crowd,” trainer Michael Trombetta said. “He just does his job and when he races, he gives it his best.”

Souper Forces will seek his fourth victory in as many career starts into the 50th running of the Tropical Park Derby, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds that will co-headline Saturday’s 11-race program with the $125,000 Tropical Park Oaks, a 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

The homebred son of Laoban has won his three races at three different racetracks. After breaking his maiden on debut over Presque Isle Downs’ synthetic surface at six furlongs with a late rally Aug. 5, he stretched out to a mile on turf to capture an entry-level allowance with an off-the-pace performance at Colonial Downs a month later. In his stakes debut in the Nov. 1 Showing Up at Gulfstream Park, he surged from well off the pace at the top of the stretch to register an 18-1 upset victory in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes.

“The only thing I can say about this guy is: everything I’ve asked him to do, he’s done very, very well,” Trombetta said. “He’s been a very pleasant surprise.”

Souper Forces, who drew the far-outside post position in a field of 12 horses is rated at 8-1. Trombetta, who saddled Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Blessing for a 12-1 upset victory in the 2023 Tropical Park Derby, has awarded the return mount aboard Souper Forces to Cipriano Gil.