2006 Florida Derby Card

Barbaro wins the Florida Derby

Barbaro and Sharp Humor duke it out down the stretch in the Florida Derby

© Vanessa Ng

The $1 million Florida Derby (G1) is the last major Kentucky Derby prep in Florida. Eleven three-year-olds went to the gate in this 1 1/8 mile trip around Gulfstream Park. 6-1 shot Sharp Humor led the way early, getting brisk fractions of 23.45, 47.35 and 1:11.37 while 8-5 undefeated favorite Barbaro gave chase 1 1/2 lengths behind, after bobbling at the start. Jockey Edgar Prado urged Barbaro to make his bid for the lead in mid-stretch, and the pair were noses apart through a prolonged stretch drive, neither combatant willing to yield. In the final strides, Barbaro finally dug in and got his neck in front for the hard-earning 1/2 length victory, in a time of 1:49.01. It was 3 lengths back to Sunriver in third while Sam's Ace was fourth. Sharp Humor's trainer Dale Romans said, "That's a nice horse that beat us. If you would have told me yesterday that I'd get beat a head, I'd be ecstatic, but my horse just fought so hard and kept looking like he was going to win. It's become a disappointment."

Results chart

• Barbaro wins the Florida Derby
• Barbaro after the Florida Derby
• Florida Derby second place finisher Sharp Humor
• Bandini wins the Skip Away Handicap
• Bandini leaps to the lead in the Skip Away Handicap
• Honey Ryder wins the Orchid Handicap
• Silver Whistle wins the Pan American Handicap
• Little Thunder wins the Artax Handicap
• Exclusive Quality wins the Spectacular Bid Stakes
• Drum Major wins the Lure Stakes