Lil’s Lad Favored in Florida Derby

HALLANDALE, Fla. — Lil’s Lad, undefeated in three starts this year, is the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

Six horses were entered Wednesday for the 1 1/8-mile race, one of the major preps for the Kentucky Derby on May 2. This is the field, in post-position order:

Voyamerican, with Eibar Coa riding, 15-1; Halory Hunter, Pat Day, 6-1; Starship Charles, Eduardo Nunez, 30-1. Cape Town, Shane Sellers, 8-1; Lil’s Lad, Jerry Bailey, 4-5; and Coronado’s Quest, Mike Smith, 9-5. All six will carry 122 pounds, four fewer than the Kentucky Derby weight.

In the seven-furlong Swale Stakes, also scheduled for Gulfstream on Saturday, Favorite Trick, the undefeated horse of the year for 1997, makes his debut as a 3-year-old.

Now trained by Bill Mott, who took over when Patrick Byrne accepted a job with Canadian industrialist Frank Stronach, Favorite Trick will face a small field as he shoots for his ninth straight win. Entries for the Swale will be drawn today.