Study Guide: 2024 Tampa Bay Derby
Mar 07, 2024
No More Time wins the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photography)
It’s been a while since the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs produced a Kentucky Derby (G1) winner. The last was Super Saver, who parlayed a third-place finish in Tampa’s signature race into victory in the 2010 Run for the Roses.
However, the Tampa Bay Derby continues to churn out Kentucky Derby starters with regularity, and the 1 1/16-mile contest serves as a prominent Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier worth 50-25-15-10-5 points to the top five finishers.
A field of 10 has turned out to contest the 2024 Tampa Bay Derby. Let’s check out the entries:
Heartened
Good Money wins at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photography)
Heartened wins at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photograph
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker, and Vicarage Stable
Breeder: Knowles Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Top Speed Rating: (85) when breaking his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $54,300
Sire: Street Boss
Dam: Rare Find
Color: Bay
Heartened lost his first three starts, but one was a sprint and two were on turf. When he tackled a dirt route at Tampa Bay Downs last month, he led for much of the journey to dominate by 4 1/2 lengths. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won the Tampa Bay Derby six times, so don’t count Heartened out of contention in his second dirt route run.
Everdoit
Start(s): 5
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Donald L. Ming
Breeder: Don Ming
Trainer: Kevin Rice
Jockey: Antonio Gallardo
Top Speed Rating: (81) when breaking his maiden at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $46,750
Sire: Gary D
Dam: Jaggermama
Color: Gray/roan
Everdoit lost his jockey when making his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut in the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa last month, so we don’t know if he could have challenged for victory. But a previous sixth-place finish in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Park suggests Everdoit needs improvement to factor in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Give Me Liberty
Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 2
Show: 0
Owner: Kenneth L. Ramsey
Breeder: Don Alberto Corporation
Trainer: Robertino Diodoro
Jockey: Pablo Morales
Top Speed Rating: (82) when finishing second in an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $46,957
Sire: Constitution
Dam: The Dream
Color: Dark bay/brown
Give Me Liberty has finished second in his last two starts against maiden special weight competition at Oaklawn Park, beaten by a pair of horses (Common Defense and Dimatic) who returned to earn Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points in Oaklawn’s Rebel (G2). But Give Me Liberty has yet to earn a Brisnet Speed rating higher than 82, so stepping up in class for the Tampa Bay Derby looks like a tricky task.
Good Money
Good Money wins at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photography)
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Calumet Farm
Breeder: Hill N Dale Equine Holdings
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (78) when winning his debut at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $18,560
Sire: Good Magic
Dam: Cascading Cash
Color: Bay
Good Money debuted with victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Tampa Bay Downs, in which he tracked a sharp pace before taking over to win by one length. The son of Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic looks promising and has five-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey Irad Ortiz named to ride, but he’ll need to improve upon his debut 78 Brisnet Speed rating to challenge against tougher foes this Saturday.
Domestic Product
Domestic Product winning at Belmont Big A (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Klaravich Stables
Breeder: Klaravich Stables
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Top Speed Rating: (91) when finishing second in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $104,200
Sire: Practical Joke
Dam: Goods and Services
Color: Dark bay/brown
Domestic Product didn’t get the best setup when attempting to rally from behind a pedestrian pace in last month’s Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream, but he nevertheless closed ground gamely to finish second, beaten two lengths while coming home ahead of champion two-year-old male Fierceness. Domestic Product earned a sharp 91 Brisnet Speed rating and a powerful 108 Brisnet Late Pace, so if he gets a quicker pace to work with in the Tampa Bay Derby he’ll be a formidable win threat.
Catire Vizcaya
Catire Vizcays wins at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Hablan Los Caballos and Marco Berne
Breeder: Singing Bridge Stable
Trainer: Juan Avila
Jockey: Marcos Meneses
Top Speed Rating: (81) when breaking his maiden at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $62,725
Sire: Anchor Down
Dam: Bristol’s Brooke
Color: Gray/roan
Catire Vizcaya led all the way to break his maiden sprinting seven furlongs at Saratoga last summer, but he’s since been beaten by wide margins in two starts against tougher competition, most recently finishing fifth in a $75,000 allowance optional claimer at Tampa. He’ll need a rebound to challenge against even tougher foes on Saturday.
No More Time
No More Time wins the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs (Photo by SV Photography)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 1
Show: 0
Owner: Morplay Racing
Breeder: MAMAS Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Jose D’Angelo
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning the Sam F. Davis (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $156,780
Sire: Not This Time
Dam: Baroness Juliette
Color: Dark bay/brown
No More Time owns the two highest Brisnet Speed ratings in the Tampa Bay Derby field. He posted a 92 when dominating a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park, and then—following a troubled fifth in the Mucho Macho Man—he improved to a 93 when wiring the Sam F. Davis over the same track and distance as the Tampa Bay Derby. A fast half-mile workout last Saturday suggests No More Time is ready for another strong performance.
Crazy Mason
Crazy Mason (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 7
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 1
Owner: Donna Wright and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing
Breeder: Gmbracstables
Trainer: Gregory Sacco
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez
Top Speed Rating: (90) when finishing second in the Inaugural S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $104,150
Sire: Coal Front
Dam: Izshelegal
Color: Gray/roan
Crazy Mason has placed in multiple stakes, including the six-furlong Inaugural S. at Tampa, but he failed to challenge when sixth in the Sam F. Davis and needs a move forward to achieve a better showing in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Grand Mo the First
Grand Mo the First (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Lauren King)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 2
Owner: Granpollo Stables
Breeder: John D. Gunther
Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr.
Jockey: Samy Camacho
Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing third in the Swale S. at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $86,650
Sire: Uncle Mo
Dam: Lilies So Fair
Color: Dark bay/brown
Grand Mo the First won his first two starts sprinting over the synthetic Tapeta track at Gulfstream Park, then finished third in the Zuma Beach (G3) running long on turf and third in the Swale sprinting on dirt. Versatility is clearly a strong suit for Grand Mo the First, but his pedigree suggests running long on dirt will be his true strong suit, so don’t be surprised if he outruns expectations while tackling a dirt route for the first time in the Tampa Bay Derby. He’s earned three straight Brisnet Speed ratings in the 86-87 range, and any improvement on Saturday could put Grand Mo the First in the hunt for victory.
Sturdy
Start(s): 3
Wins: 0
Place: 1
Show: 2
Owner: Repole Stable and R. A. Hill Stable
Breeder: ERJ Racing
Trainer: George Weaver
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing third in a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $38,300
Sire: Mitole
Dam: Holidays Saratoga
Color: Bay
Although Sturdy is 0-for-3, he’s earned improving Brisnet Speed ratings of 80, 82, and 87 while recording top-three finishes in maiden special weights at Saratoga, Aqueduct, and Gulfstream Park. Along the way, he’s knocked heads with talented rivals like Domestic Product and stakes winners Locked and Drum Roll Please. A top-five finish may be in reach for Sturdy this Saturday.
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