Kentucky Derby 2024: A look at the 14 horses with Florida ties

The 2024 Kentucky Derby is set to run Saturday evening, and there will be plenty of Florida influence.

It’s no big surprise. The Ocala Breeders’ Sales are among the biggest in the country for horse owners. There are world-class farms across the state, from Marion County to Payson Park in Martin County. Two races, the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach and the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, are feeders to the annual Run for the Roses.

There are 14 horses with ties to Florida running in the 2024 Kentucky Derby. Here’s a quick look at them:

Just a Touch

• Position: 8
• Ocala Breeders’ Sales history: Bought at auction April 28, 2023, for $3,000

Forever Young

• Position: 12
• Owner: Breezy Hall LLC’s Mike Hall, Ocala farm owner and member of Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association board of directors

• Position: 16
• Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr., previous leading trainer at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach
• Jockey: Emisael Jamarillo, moved from Venezuela to South Florida in 2015
• Schooled by: Keifer Rengifo at Golden Rock Thoroughbreds in Citra
• Florida Derby 2024 finish: Third

• Position: 17
• Trainer: Todd Pletcher, whose father, JJ Pletcher, has a training center in Ocala, and whose mother, Joan Pletcher, sells high-end horse farms
• Early training: Ocala Stud Farm
• Florida Derby 2024 finish: First