Audible ran away in the stretch to win the Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday, further cementing himself as a serious contender for the Kentucky Derby.

An eight-week layoff was no problem for Audible, who will take a four-race winning streak into the Triple Crown campaign that starts at Churchill Downs on May 5. He finished the 1 1/8 miles at Gulfstream Park in 1:49.48, and delivered the fifth Florida Derby win to both jockey John Velazquez and trainer Todd Pletcher.

And now, barring some sort of problem, it's off to Churchill Downs.

``If he comes out of it well, that's our goal,'' Pletcher said.

Recent history says that Audible will now have a great chance at the Kentucky Derby. Each of the last two Florida Derby winners _ Always Dreaming last year and Nyquist in 2016 _ went on to win the Run for the Roses.

Hofburg was second, Mississippi took third and Catholic Boy _ the second choice in the betting behind only Audible, who was sent off at 8-5 odds _ was fourth.

The win gave Audible 100 points in the Kentucky Derby standings, far more than enough to clinch his spot in the field. Hofburg is almost certainly assured a spot as well.

Promises Fulfilled, the Fountain of Youth winner at Gulfstream earlier this month, went right to the lead out of the gate, as did Strike Power. They set a blazing early fraction, while the other seven starters merely sat back and waited for the initial speed to fade.

Audible waited outside a cluster of four horses, and began his big move near the far turn.

By the time they were in the final straightaway, it was over.

``I was a little worried when they turned up the backside, because we got into the first turn in exactly the position we wanted to get into,'' Pletcher said. ``And then he kind of fell back a little bit and I was a little bit worried because that's normally not Johnny's style to let one kind of drop back that far. But once he found his rhythm on the back side, I felt much better.''

Audible returned $5.20, $4 and $3.

AP-WF-03-31-18 2328GMT