Spielberg Will Take His Act to March 27 Florida Derby
Saturday, March 20, 2021
    HALLANDALE BEACH - Multiple Gr. 1 stakes-placed Spielberg has joined the star cast of scheduled starters for the $750,000, Gr. I Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa on March 27 at Gulfstream Park.

    Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the 3-year-old son of Union Rags is scheduled to clash with Holy Bull and Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth winner Greatest Honour in the 1 1/8-mile race that has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown events. “We’ll see how he stacks up,” Baffert said Friday.

    Spielberg, who is scheduled to breeze Sunday at Santa Anita before shipping to South Florida, finished second behind Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality in the Feb. 27 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park following a poor start.

    “He’s a great-feeling horse,” Baffert said. “He came out of that race in great shape.”

    In his 2021 debut, the Kentucky-bred colt stumbled at the start of the Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita before finishing fourth behind Baffert-trained winner Medina Spirit.

    “He needs to get away from the gate well,” said Baffert of Spielberg’s chances of winning the Florida Derby. 

    Spielberg had a productive six-race juvenile campaign, in which he finished second in the Del Mar Futurity and third in the American Pharoah at Santa Anita before breaking is maiden in his fourth start. He went on to win the Los Alamitos Futurity two starts later.

    The colt was purchased for $1 million at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and is owned by a partnership of SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stable LLC, Golconda Stables, Sienna Farm LLC and Robert Masterson.

    In addition to Greatest Honour and Spielberg, the Florida Derby field is likely to include Collaborate, Known Agenda, Nova Rags, Soup and Sandwich, Papetu, Quantum Leap, Jirafales and Siglioso.
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