Expert Pick of the Week: 2024 Tampa Bay Derby

Mar 07, 2024 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A total of 10 sophomores will run 1 1/8 miles on the main oval in Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. The 2024 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series will hand out a total of 105 qualifying points (50-25-15-10-5) to the top five finishers towards the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs on May 4.

The Jose D’Angelo-trained No More Time, a stout winner of the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs during his latest endeavor, has a good chance to repeat those results, while making his third start of the season. By Not This Time, the bargain $40,000 yearling purchase was second at first asking, and broke his maiden in impressive fashion at Gulfstream Park in October during his two-year-old finale.

#TwinSpiresTop5️⃣ performances from last weekend's racing.

1️⃣ No More Time -- Sam F. Davis
2️⃣ Power Squeeze -- Suncoast S.
3️⃣ Valentine Candy -- Ozark S.
4️⃣ Sibelius -- Pelican S.
5️⃣ Nice as Pie -- Valdale S. pic.twitter.com/OHJyoFc7x5

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 12, 2024

No More Time endured a less than favorable trip when placing fifth in the Mucho Macho Man S. to kick off 2024, but he showed obvious improvement while making his graded stakes debut last time out. In the Sam F. Davis, the colt broke swiftly from the gate and was never headed. What I really liked was how he set sharp early splits and had another gear in the stretch. The Kentucky-bred arguably will face a field with less depth on Saturday, and he once again figures to be forcing the tempo from the opening bell. Javier Castellano will pilot the Iowa-bred, who fired a bullet of a half-mile at Palm Meadows in his latest morning workout.

Chad Brown’s Domestic Product rallied to be a clear runner-up in the Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park in his 2024 debut and will be the main danger to the top selection under Tyler Gaffalione. By Practical Joke, the Klaravich homebred has displayed some early speed in the past, but was more relaxed last time out with the blinkers removed, which resulted in the colt earning a hefty 108 Brisnet Late Pace number. He will receive more honest early fractions to rally into late on Saturday and figures to be the one to hold off in the final yards of the race.

Expert Pick

An exacta with #7 No More Time on top of #5 Domestic Product is the Best Bet of the Week