"Road to Kentucky Derby" Turns South to Tampa Bay This Week

(Tampa Bay Downs / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team:

ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY HEADS SOUTH FOR TAMPA BAY DERBY

This week’s lone stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby will be contested in the “Sunshine State” where a field of 10 3-year-olds were entered in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (Grade III), a race that’s produced two winners of the “Run for the Roses.”

Situated eight weeks from the 150 running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI), the Tampa Bay Derby could be used as a prep for the first Saturday in May as it was for Super Saver and Street Sense prior to their victories in 2010 and 2007, respectively, or it might be used as the final prep before the Derby like 2021 Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium.

The Tampa Bay Derby will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale towards a spot in the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby. While 50 points will vault the winner of the Tampa Bay Derby up the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard, it is not a mathematically guaranteed spot in the race.

However, based on the last 11 years of the Road to the Kentucky Derby point system, it could be just enough to sneak in the field.

SAM F. DAVIS WINNER NO MORE TIME RETURNS TO FACE NINE RIVALS IN TAMPA BAY DERBY

Morplay Racing’s Sam F. Davis (Grade III) winner No More Time will return to Tampa Bay Downs and face nine fellow 3-year-olds that entered Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), the next stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Run at 1 1/16 miles, the Tampa Bay Derby was carded as Race 11 on the 12-race program with a post time of 5:18 p.m. (all times Eastern).

The 10 runners in the Tampa Bay Derby, the marquee race of the Tampa Bay Downs season, will be vying for a total of 105 qualifying points, awarded to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the 150 running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 4.

No More Time, trained by Jose D’Angelo, enters the Tampa Bay Derby after winning the Sam F. Davis by 1 ¼ lengths, the local prep for Saturday’s race. In the Sam F. Davis, No More Time was sent to the early lead by jockey Paco Lopez and held clear of runner-up Agate Road in the final stages to earn 20 points during the Road to the Kentucky Derby “Prep Season.” The Iowa-bred son of Not This Time will have a change of jockey for the Tampa Bay Derby to Kentucky Derby 149 winning rider Javier Castellano. The duo will break from post No. 7.

Another accomplished 3-year-old entered is KlaravichStables’ Holy Bull (GII) runner-up Domestic Product. Trained by Chad Brown, Domestic Product returned in the Holy Bull following a two-month layoff to finish two-lengths behind Hades at odds of 14-1. The homebred son of Practical Joke will be ridden by TylerGaffalione, whose father, Steve, won this race in 1989 aboard Storm Prediction. Domestic Product will break from post 5.

Recent Tampa Bay Downs maiden special weight winner Heartland will break from the rail under jockey Jose Ortiz for six-time Tampa Bay Derby winning conditioner Todd Pletcher. He will be followed in post-position order by (with jockey and trainer) Everdoit (Antonio Gallardo, Kevin Rice); Give Me Liberty (Pablo Morales, Robertino Diodoro); Good Money (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brown); Domestic Product (Gaffalione, Brown); Catire Vizcaya (Marco Meneses, Juan Avila); No More Time (Castellano, D’Angelo); CrazyMason(Mychel Sanchez, Gregory Sacco); Grand Mo the First (Samy Camacho, Victor Barboza Jr.); and Sturdy(Junior Alvarado, George Weaver).

Catire Vizcaya is the lone horse in the race that is not nominated to the Triple Crown. His connections can make him eligible for the three-race series by paying a $6,000 late nomination fee due Monday, April 1.

Fans can watch and wager on the Tampa Bay Derby by logging on to TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

TAMPA BAY DERBY QUOTES

• Jose D’Angelo, trainer, No More Time: “I think he is going to get better. He is still improving and he knows the track there, which is a big advantage for him. … It was very similar to his workout before the Sam F. Davis (when he worked a half-mile in :47.95 Saturday at Palm Meadows Training Center) and his gallop out was amazing. He’s a horse who doesn’t need too much anyway because he’s not too big. He was very nervous and green when I started with him but he’s more focused now and more mature. I think he’s perfect to go for longer distances.”

TV/WAGERING SCHEDULE – Fans can watch and wager on all the action for the Road to the Kentucky Derby on FanDuel TV or TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.

DIFFERENT WINNERS ON ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY – So far, this year’s Road to the Kentucky Derby closely resembles last year’s in terms of point earners.

          Like last year at this time, there have been three different winners on the Road to the Kentucky Derby: Dornoch (Remsen and Fountain of Youth); Timberlake (Champagne and Rebel) and Track Phantom(Gun Runner and Lecomte). In 2023, Forte, Instant Coffee and Practical Move were the lone multiple-race winners.

          Through 25 Road to the Kentucky Derby races this season, there have been 83 horses to earn qualifying points, three more than last year.

          It took 45 points to make the field for Kentucky Derby 149.

          Including the Tampa Bay Derby, 10 races remain to be run on the traditional Road to the Kentucky Derby, along with one each on the European and Japan series.

TAMPA BAY DERBY PROUDCED 45 KENTUCKY DERBY STARTERS, TWO WINNERS – Since 2004, the Tampa Bay Derby has produced at least one starter in the Kentucky Derby including two winners of the “Run for the Roses”: Super Saver (2010) and Street Sense (2007).

          Overall, since 1982, the Tampa Bay Derby has produced 45 starters in the Kentucky Derby. On average, the horses exiting the Tampa Bay Derby have finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby.

          To put that number in perspective, last week’s Fountain of Youth Stakes has produced more than double the starters in the Kentucky Derby, 97 since 1982. Like the Tampa Bay Derby, horses exiting the Fountain of Youth have finished an average of ninth in the Kentucky Derby.

KEY RACES TO WATCH TO WATCH – This weekend there are several races around the world that could have implications on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Here are some of the key races:

Friday

• 6:25 p.m. ET, OP 10, MSW, 3yo, 6 F
• 9:55 p.m. ET, TP 9, Alw, n2L, 3yo, 1 M

Saturday

• 4:18 p.m. ET, OP 8, MSW, 3yo f, 1 M
• 5:03 p.m. ET, SA 4, MSW, 3yo, 6 ½ F
• 5:18 p.m. ET, TAM 11, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), 3yo, 1 1/16 M
• 5:22 p.m. ET, OP 8, MSW, 3yo, 1 1/8 M
• 5:27 p.m. ET, AQU 9, MSW, 3yo, 1 M
• 6:07 p.m. ET, SA 6, $100,000 Santa Ysabel (GIII), 3yo f, 1 1/16 M

TIMBERLAKE REMAINS AT TOP OF LEADERBOARD – Through 25 races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Rebel Stakes (GII) winner Timberlake remains at the top the leaderboard with 66 points. Following last Saturday’s Fountain of Youth (GII), Dornoch has asserted himself in second place with 60 points.

          Here are the Top 20 horses on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard:

DOWN THE STRETCH

The connections of Le Dom Bro have submitted their $6,000 payment to become a late nominee for the Triple Crown. Therefore, his 25 points earned in last week’s Fountain of Youth have been credited on the leaderboard. Additionally, Awesome Ruta, sixth in the Risen Star, has been made a late nominee. Late nominations are due Monday, April 1. …

The Road to the Longines Kentucky Oaks heads to Santa Anita on Saturday for the rescheduled $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes (GIII). The field of eight 3-year-old fillies will go to post in Race 6 at 6:07 p.m. The Bob Baffert-trained and 4-5 favorite Kinza is ineligible to compete in the Kentucky Oaks. Longshots Pacific Rose and Ifusaintfirsturlast were not early Kentucky Oaks nominees. …

The connections of impressive maiden special weight winner Drip have bypassed running in the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) to give the horse additional training time. Trainer Whit Beckman stated nothing is wrong with Drip but they wanted to give him extra spacing between races. …

The 10 season of “Inside Churchill Downs” with Darren Rogers and Kevin Kerstein will begin Friday, April 5 on ESPN 680/105.7 in Louisville. …

Only 11 days remain until horses will return to the backside of Churchill Downs to begin preparing for the Spring Meet. The first day of training is Friday, March 22 from 6-9 a.m.

UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY RACES

March 23 (six weeks out) – $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Agate Road (Todd Pletcher); Awesome Ruta (Joseph Foster); Catching Freedom (Brad Cox); Common Defense (Kenny McPeek); Hall of Fame (Steve Asmussen); Honor Marie (Whit Beckman); Nash (Brad Cox); Real Men Violin (Kenny McPeek); Resilience (Bill Mott); Track Phantom (Steve Asmussen); and Tuscan Sky (Brad Cox).

March 30 (five weeks out) – $1 million UAE Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Meydan Racecourse (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Forever Young (Yoshito Yahagi); Killer Collect (Bhupat Semar); and Mendelssohn Bay (Bhupat Semar).

March 23 (six weeks out) – $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Endlessly (Michael McCarthy); Le Gris (Al Stall Jr.); Moonlight (Todd Pletcher); Mugatu (Jeff Engler); Tennessee (Brad Cox); and West Saratoga (Larry Demeritte).

March 30 (five weeks out) – $1 million Florida Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Born Noble (Todd Pletcher); Conquest Warrior (Shug McGaughey III); Dancing Groom (Antonio Sano); Deterministic (Christophe Clement); Dornoch (Danny Gargan); Fierceness (Todd Pletcher); Hades (Joe Orseno); Le Dom Bro (Eniel Cordero); Locked (Todd Pletcher); and Resilience (Bill Mott).

March 30 (five weeks out) – $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Born Noble (Todd Pletcher); Coach Prime (Bob Baffert); Deterministic (Christophe Clement); Hall of Fame (Steve Asmussen); Liberal Arts (Robert Medina); Locked (Todd Pletcher); Maymun (Bob Baffert); Muth (Bob Baffert); Mystik Dan (Kenny McPeek); Northern Flame (Kenny McPeek); Stronghold (Phil D’Amato); Timberlake (Brad Cox); and Time for Truth (Ron Moquett).

April 6 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Be You (Todd Pletcher);Born Noble (Todd Pletcher); Deposition (Uriah St. Lewis); Deterministic (Christophe Clement); El Grande O (Linda Rice); Just a Touch (Brad Cox); Locked (Todd Pletcher); Tuscan Sky (Todd Pletcher); and Uncle Heavy (Butch Reid).

April 6 (four weeks out) – $1 million Blue Grass (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Born Noble (Todd Pletcher); Deterministic (Christophe Clement); Dornoch (Danny Gargan); Epic Ride (John Ennis); Hall of Fame (Steve Asmussen); Just a Touch (Brad Cox); Lat Long (Kenny McPeek); Locked (Todd Pletcher); Sierra Leone (Chad Brown); Seize the Grey (D. Wayne Lukas);Stronghold (Phil D’Amato); and Timberlake (Brad Cox).

April 6 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Coach Prime (Bob Baffert); Imagination (Bob Baffert); Mc Vay (John Shirreffs); Muth (Bob Baffert); Nysos (Bob Baffert); Stronghold (Phil D’Amato); Tessuto (George Papaprodromou); and Wine Me Up (Bob Baffert).

April 13 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 5: 20-10-6-4-2)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Northern Flame (Kenny McPeek)

Note: The possible fields for upcoming Kentucky Derby Championship Series races are fluid as owners and trainers vie for points. Known possible horses mentioned to be under consideration for each race are based on published news reports and other sources. Horses listed in italics are possible for multiple races.

ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round simulcast wagering facility and Race and Sports Book. www.ChurchillDowns.com.