No More Time looks for another prep score in Tampa Bay Derby

Mar 06, 2024 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Of the top three finishers from last month's Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, only the winning No More Time returns for Saturday's $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) over 1 1/16 miles.

Well-backed to 3-1 favoritism in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis, No More Time grabbed the early lead and eventually made all after setting a strong pace. He crossed the finish 1 1/4 lengths clear of Agate Road, who is expected to contest the Jeff Ruby (G3) at Turfway Park later this month.

'I think he is going to get better,' trainer Jose D'Angelo said of the Palm Meadows-based No More Time. 'He is still improving and he knows the track there, which is a big advantage for him.

'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.'

Domestic Product, a rallying second off a slow pace in last month's Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream, looms a major threat for trainer Chad Brown. The son of Practical Joke improved well off a disappointing run in the Remsen (G2), a race that has produced major Kentucky Derby (G1) prep winners Dornoch and Sierra Leone.

Brown also sends out Good Money, a debut winner over seven furlongs at Tampa on Jan. 26.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has been rather unlucky in Kentucky Derby preps so far this year, having watched juvenile champion Fierceness run third in the Holy Bull and then having both Locked and Speak Easy scratch late from last week's Fountain of Youth (G2). The Hall of Famer has won the Tampa Bay Derby a record six times, though, and relies on Heartened to provide a seventh. The son of Street Boss graduated by more than four lengths in a two-turn maiden at Tampa on the Sam Davis undercard.

Also of note among the field of 10 are the dual stakes-placed Grand Mo the First and maidens Give Me Liberty and Sturdy. The latter was a distant second in Domestic Product's maiden-breaking score at Aqueduct in October.

The Tampa Bay Derby will offer Kentucky Derby qualifying points of 50-250-15-10-5 to the respective top five finishers that are Triple Crown nominated. It has a scheduled post time of 5:18 p.m. and can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.