Hallandale Beach, FL (Betting Express) - Longshot Ice Box overtook Pleasant Prince and Rule down the stretch to win Saturday's $750,000 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. The 1 1/8-mile race is an important prep event for the Kentucky Derby.

Setting the pace in the Florida Derby was 9-5 favorite Rule along with Pulsion on the inside. Running just behind the two leaders was Game On Dude and 5-2 second choice Radiohead.

As the field entered the far turn Pulsion had a nose lead over Rule as longshot Pleasant Prince began his move from the back of the 11 horse field. Around the turn for home Rule shook off Pulsion for the lead as Pleasant Prince and Ice Box rallied on the outside.

Coming off the final turn Rule, ridden by John Velazquez, had the lead, but was quickly joined by Pleasant Prince and rider Julien Leparoux. At the top of the stretch Rule was to the inside with Pleasant Prince to his outside and racing down the middle of the track was Ice Box and jockey Jose Lezcano.

Inside the furlong pole Pleasant Prince took a short lead over Rule as Ice Box continued his rally on the outside. Nearing the wire Ice Box drew even with Pleasant Prince for the lead as Rule faded to third.

Ice Box, who is trained by Nick Zito, stuck his nose in front of Pleasant Prince at the wire to get the victory. Rule held on to finish third as Lentanor, Barbaro's full-brother, got fourth.

Rounding out the order of finish was First Dude, Pulsion, Game On Dude, Soaring Empire, Radiohead, Miner's Reserve and Best Actor.

The time for the 59th Florida Derby was 1:49.19 on a fast track.

Sent off as a 20-1 longshot, Ice Box registered his third career win in seven starts and added $450,000 to his bankroll. One of two Robert LaPenta entries in the race, Ice Box has lifetime earnings of $506,534, with enough from graded stakes races to qualify for the Run for the Roses. LaPenta and Zito also had Miner's Reserve in the race.

Ice Box was coming off a fifth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream. Pleasant Prince, 29-1 in the race, was fourth in the Fountain of Youth.

Ice Box returned $43.40, $20.40 and $9.60. Pleasant Prince paid $26.40 and $11.60, and Rule paid $3.40 to show.