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Despite going off at 9-5, Materiality could be considered by some as upsetting the 2015 Florida Derby.
The Florida Derby concludes the series of three-year-old preps for sophomores at Gulfstream Park, a series that Upstart dominated in 2015 when crossing under the wire first in both the Holy Bull S. and Fountain of Youth S. Despite being disqualified to second in that latter event, Upstart stamped his mark on the 2015 preps and subsequently went off the even-money favorite for the Florida Derby.
Unfortunately for the dark bay ridgling, he proved no match for Materiality that day. The Todd Pletcher-trained Materiality had scored in his only other two races and was trying graded rivals for the first time, but that didn’t stop him from taking command prior to the half-mile call after being bumped at the start. He was never headed after that, going on to a 1 1/2-length score under jockey John Velazquez while completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.30.
The Florida Derby awarded points on a 100-40-20-10 basis to the top four toward a starting berth in the Kentucky Derby, and Materiality needed those points to make the Run for the Roses with his short career mark. He finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby before going on to be last of eight in the Belmont Stakes. He was retired in August.
Upstart did much worse in his Kentucky Derby effort as he was eased in the lane and walked off. He’s officialy listed as finishing last in the 18-horse field.
Ami’s Flatter took home the Florida Derby’s 20-point prize for third but didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby, while fourth-place finisher Itsaknockout filled the ninth spot in the Run for the Roses.
No other 2015 Florida Derby runner competed in the season’s Kentucky Derby.