Tampa Bay Derby Set For Saturday

By Margaret Ransom

Eleven 3-year-olds were entered for Saturday’s $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (GII), the centerpiece the Tampa Bay Downs winter racing season. The 1 1/16-mile race offers 50 points to the winner, as well as 20, 10 and 5 to the next three finishers, to make the gate for the Kentucky Derby in eight weeks.

Four graded-stakes winners were entered, including Breeders’ Futurity (GI) winner Free Drop Billy and Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (GII) hero Enticed, but both caught the Tex Sutton charter to New York and will instead run in the Gotham Stakes (GIII).

So, who is left to challenge?

The Tampa Bay Derby has produced two winners of the Kentucky Derby: Street Sense, who won it in 2007, and Super Saver, who finished third in 2010. Looking to follow them this year is… (more)