High Fly wins the 2005 Florida Derby

Nick Zito didn’t merely snap out of his 0-16 Florida Derby slump, he crushed it Saturday, saddling High Fly and Noble Causeway to a 1,2 finish in the 54th running of the $1 million Run for the Orchids. High Fly and Mighty Mecke stalked leader B. B. Best early in the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 1 event. B.B. Best was stubborn on the lead, holding well into the stretch as High Fly challenged and Mighty Mecke retreated. As High Fly took over, Noble Causeway, making his first stakes start, launched an outside rally that carried him past everyone but the leader. High Fly held his stablemate safe, scoring by 1 1/2 lengths. Noble Causeway had two lengths on third-place B. B. Best.

High Fly became the fourth 3-year-old colt to win three stakes at a Gulfstream meeting, having taken the Aventura and Fountain of Youth prior to his Florida Derby start. Easy Spur (1959), Spectacular Bid (1979) and Fly So Free (1991) also won three. High Fly also ran third in the Holy Bull earlier this meet.

The winner is owned by the Live Oak Plantation of Charlotte Weber and was ridden by Jerry Bailey. The Florida Derby was the 143rd stakes victory that the Hall of Fame jockey has registered at Gulfstream, a total that now includes three Florida Derbies.

Trainer Nick Zito said, "These horses both ran really huge. They both showed a lot of courage. All the way down the lane I was yelling 'Show me your heart. Show me your heart.' And they did. They both can go a mile and a quarter. No question. It was very gratifying to watch them."