Two years ago, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. experienced a significant milestone when he prepared White Abarrio for a triumph in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. This accomplishment continues to be a vivid and cherished memory for him.
"It holds immense significance. Even today, winning with White Abarrio continues to hold great importance," expressed Joseph. "It was our inaugural triumph in the Florida Derby, a race that takes place at our home track. It's a race that you've grown up watching and one that you dream of winning. To see that dream materialize is a moment for which you're truly grateful. Hopefully, we can secure more victories of this kind in the future."
Joseph, who is on the verge of clinching his third consecutive Championship Meet training title, is set to make a bid for his second victory in the Florida Derby on March 30. This time, he will be relying on Catalytic, owned by Tami Bobo, Julie Davies, and George Isaac.
Unlike White Abarrio, who boasted an impressive record that included a win in the Holy Bull (G3) before entering the Florida Derby, Catalytic will enter the 1 1/8-mile race with only two previous races under his belt.
The 3-year-old offspring of Catalina Cruiser showcased a remarkable debut performance at Gulfstream Park on October 7. He secured a convincing victory, triumphing by a margin of 5 1/2 lengths before taking a break from racing. Following his hiatus, he made a comeback on March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs. In that race, he displayed a strong closing kick, finishing second by less than a length in a six-furlong entry-level allowance optional claimer, despite starting from a position far back in the field.
"He fell ill and had to take a break, causing us to adjust our plans. He encountered some setbacks and fell behind schedule," explained Joseph. "We managed to get him back on track and entered him in a race at Tampa. Despite several things going awry, he still ran impressively. He was restless at the starting gate and had a poor break. At the quarter pole, it seemed like he would finish a distant fourth at best, but he rallied strongly and narrowly missed out on victory. Although it may not have appeared visually, he displayed a strong finishing kick and finished the race strongly."
Apart from making his first appearance in a stakes race at the Florida Derby, Catalytic will also be competing around two turns for the first time.
"The challenge with running around two turns is that you can't be certain until you do it. Based on his running style, you would assume he should handle it," commented Joseph. "The most difficult aspect is that he lacks the experience of racing against horses of this calibre and moving up in class. Nevertheless, I believe he is a high-calibre horse."
"Can he overcome the lack of experience? In his previous race, I believe he gained valuable experience. In his debut, he had a flawless trip. However, last time things didn't go as planned, yet he still managed to deliver a commendable performance. Can he make significant improvements? Only time will tell. That's precisely why we participate in races—to see how horses progress and perform under different circumstances."
Julien Leparoux has been assigned as the jockey for Catalytic's first ride in the Florida Derby. In this race, the relatively inexperienced colt will face formidable opponents such as Fierceness, the reigning 2-year-old champion male of 2023, and Hades, the winner of the Holy Bull Stakes (G3). The field consists of eleven horses competing in the event.