Pulpit should be excused for effort in Florida Derby

     Unless you're angry because you wagered on Pulpit at the ridiculously low odds of 2-5 in Saturday's Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park, you should be willing to forgive the lightly raced colt's first career defeat.
      In all fairness to the son of 1992 Horse Of The Year A.P. Indy and paternal grandson of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, Pulpit's runner-up finish to $9.80 winner Captain Bodgit in the Grade I, $500,000 race simply may have come as the result of attempting to accomplish too much too soon.
      Unraced as a 2-year-old because of a stress leg fracture, Pulpit essentially entered his sophomore semester in January without having attended a freshman class.
      Even a potential honor student like Pulpit would find himself at a severe disadvantage without the requisite earlier training for the rigorous campaign trail to the Triple Crown Classics.
      It has been 115 years since the only Kentucky Derby winner in history not to have raced as a 2-year-old turned the trick (Apollo in 1882).
      Pulpit's connections -- the Kentucky-based ownership of Claiborne Farms and trainer Frank Brothers -- have tried to make up for lost time by putting their colt on a crash course of accelerated learning.
      Saturday's race was Pulpit's fourth in nine weeks since his debut Jan. 11.
      After front-running victories over maiden and allowance competition by respective margins of 7 1/2 and 6 1/2 lengths, Pulpit relaxed beautifully off a scorching early pace and rallied to win the Grade II Fountain Of Youth by 1 1/2 lengths Feb. 22.
      But even before the Florida Derby field was sent on its 1 1/8-mile journey, there were signs Pulpit might be slightly off his game.
      The colt appeared a bit hot and high-strung in the post parade, and jockey Shane Sellers obligingly pulled him out of the sequential post position order of appearance on the track and let him try to gallop out of his apparent nervousness.
      Whatever energy Pulpit may have expended before the race took its toll in the final furlong, when he was unable to match strides with the fast-closing Captain Bodgit, who pulled away to a 2 1/2-length victory under jockey Alex Solis.
      In their only prior encounter, the Fountain Of Youth, Captain Bodgit finished third, two lengths behind Pulpit.
      Assuming Pulpit comes out of the Florida Derby with nothing damaged but his pride, the colt's final exam for the Kentucky Derby will come April 12 in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington.
      Because it will be his first test at a track other than Gulfstream, and because of the similarities in racing surfaces between Keeneland and Churchill Downs -- home of the Kentucky Derby -- it is imperative for Pulpit to earn high marks in the Blue Grass to remain a major player in the Run For The Roses.
      But don't bet he won't. If ever a race should be chalked up to experience -- or a lack thereof -- it was Pulpit's excusable effort in the Florida Derby.
      -- WESTERN SHOWDOWN -- Pulpit's loss, dispelling any notion of infallibility, has to be encouraging for the cast members of today's featured 3-year-old event at Santa Anita, the Grade II, $250,000-added San Felipe.
      The star of the show is expected to be Silver Charm, arguably the best sophomore colt training in California.
      Silver Charm, conditioned by Bob Baffert -- whose gelding, Cavonnier, lost last year's Kentucky Derby to Grindstone by a nose -- was an impressive 1 3/4-length winner in his seasonal debut in the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 8.
      The 1 1/16-mile San Felipe will be Silver Charm's first race over a distance of ground, but his pedigree suggests he can run all day.
      Fox Sports West will provide live TV coverage of the San Felipe. Probable post time is 3:47 p.m.
      -- HANDICAPPING CONTEST -- Wednesday at midnight is the early entry deadline for the 32nd edition of World Cup of Thoroughbred Handicapping Tournament from April 2-6 at the Palace Station.
      Contestants who submit their $800 entry fee or $400 deposit by the deadline will be eligible to compete for more than $32,000 in bonus payoffs.
      First prize in the mutuel division is a guaranteed minimum of $25,000, along with guaranteed daily top prizes of $2,500 for mutuel payoff.
     
      Jay Richards' horse racing column is published Friday and Sunday.