Florida Won last to first in Ontario Derby (G3)

Florida Won gave Live Oak their newest stakes winner Sunday with a come-from-behind victory in Sunday’s $150,000 Ontario Derby (G3) at Woodbine.

Gainesway bred the Ontario Derby winner, and also consigned and sold the colt to Live Oak at the 2012 Keeneland September Yearling sale.

Florida Won, who had placed in the $100,000 Charlie Barley S. at Woodbine in July, trailed the field for the first half-mile of Sunday’s contest, then put in a four-wide move under Patrick Husbands on the turn. Florida Won rallied to the lead in mid-stretch and went on to win by 1 ½-lengths in 1:50.80 for the nine furlongs on the Polytrack.

“I breezed him last week (on the ‘Poly’) and he breezed like a winner,” said Patrick. “Today, I rode him with confidence. I wasn’t worried about the horses in front of him, I knew what type of horse I was sitting on…I waited until Luis (Contreras, Ami’s Holiday) went and I had plenty of horse.”

Florida Won banked $90,000 in victory while improving his career record to 2-1-2 from seven starts. He has now earned $147,608.