The owners of Ring Weekend are hoping his distant second-place finish in the Calder Derby isn't a true indication of his chances in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.
West Point Thoroughbreds founder and president Terry Finley had to reach deep into his wallet to acquire Preakness Stakes contender Ring Weekend, a son of Tapit, at the 2012 Keeneland September yearling sale.
The Besilu Stables Florida Derby remains a strong possibility for surprise Swales Stakes (gr. II) winner Spot, Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito said March 19, with a decision likely following an upcoming workout.
Evan Hammonds recaps the historical Santa Anita Handicap, San Felipe Stakes, Gulfstream Park Handicap, and the Tampa Bay Derby. watch video
St. Elias Stable and West Point Thoroughbreds' Ring Weekend sprang a 14-1 upset of the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, well clear of Vinceremos in an impressively speedy gate-to-wire score.
WinStar Farm and Twin Creeks Racing, owners of Sam F. Davis (gr. III) winner Vinceremos, will donate a portion of the colt's earnings to the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center.
The transcript for the Live Chat is now available. Read Transcript
TimeformUS Weekend Stakes Plays for Santa Anita, Tampa Bay, and Oaklawn Park. read blog
In what may go down as the race of the year, Saturday's Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I) will feature a rematch between Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) 1-2 finishers Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge. read blog
Conquest Titan was runner-up to Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull, while Vinceremos won the local prep for the March 8 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).
When you compare their most-recent-race performances and speed figures, the field in the Tampa Bay Derby could not be more competitive on paper.
Trainer Doug O'Neill talks with Ron Mitchell about Reddam Racing's Bond Holder.
Problems started on a flight from California to New Orleans for the Feb. 22 Risen Star Stakes, when Bond Holder was slightly injured after being severely jarred by turbulence. The incident took a severe mental toll.
Vinceremos and Harpoon, the 1-2 finishers in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III), are among 18 Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-olds nominated for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 8 at Tampa Bay Downs
Prospective, Malibu Moon's grade II-winning earner of $719,130, has been retired from racing and will stand at J. Michael O'Farrell Jr.'s Ocala Stud in Florida for the 2014 breeding season.
Tampa Bay Downs is offering a $1 million bonus payout in 2014 to the owner of any horse sweeping the Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III), Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
A revamped Festival Day celebration featuring three graded races worth $700,000, three cards offering three major stakes apiece, and a record $2,695,000 in purse money highlight Tampa's stakes schedule for the 2013-14 meet.
Where the 4-year-old son of Malibu Moon and grade II winner will stand has not been set.
Evan Hammonds recaps his top 5 performances in Kentucky Derby prep races. Who else would you include? watch video
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
Coolmore's latest purchase handled the jump up to stakes company with aplomb in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Verrazano, impressive winner of the March 9 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), leaps from fourth position a week ago to top this week's NTRA's weekly 3-Year-Old poll. Game On Dude is a solid No. 1 in the national poll.
Evan Hammonds recaps the victories of Verrazano, Hear the Ghost, and the stumble of Fort Larned. watch video
Trainer Todd Pletcher was keeping his options open on the next start for Verrazano, who became the early favorite for the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with his March 9 win in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Verrazano lived up to his billing as a top Triple Crown contender March 9 with a solid three-length score in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Tom LaMarra and Pete Denk handicap the Tampa Bay Derby and San Felipe Stakes this week. They also answer your questions submitted via Twitter at #THS. watch video
Jane Cibelli: "He's 100% fit and ready to go." read blog
The road to the Kentucky Derby winner's circle has run through Tampa twice since 2007. On Saturday in his first run in graded company, Verrazano will follow the path of Street Sense and Super Saver and see where it leads.
Highly-regarded sophomore Verrazano makes his stakes debut against eight others March 9 in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) at Tampa Bay Downs, rolling in off an impressive 16 3/4-length allowance win at Gulfstream Park.
Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger recalls choosing the Tampa Bay Derby as a steppingstone for Street Sense's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) success.
Trainer Mark Casse is looking for a big effort against the undefeated Verrazano.
With Tuesday's announcement that Verrazano is going to the Grade II Tampa Bay Derby, it seems timely to survey several leading names on the Kentucky Derby trail and where they may race next.
TVG has announced it will air the 91-day meet at Tampa Bay Downs that begins Dec. 1 and continues through May 5.
For the second meeting in a row, Tampa Bay Downs will run 25 stakes worth $2,595,000.
John Oxley's Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) winner Prospective, a major contender for the May 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), breezed five furlongs at Churchill Downs the morning of April 2 in 1:01 1/5.
Before beginning any talk about Take Charge Indy, Pat Byrne wants to make one thing clear: He has no regrets about not running the colt in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II).
MAHUBAH'S CORNER
After a gritty win in the Tampa Bay Derby, Malibu Moon colt became a 'prospective classic horse.'
If you like consistent, experienced Derby horses, Prospective fits the bill. read blog
Spring Hill Farm, who finished fourth in the March 10 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), suffered a right knee fracture and will have surgery at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington March 14.
Evan Hammonds recaps the Tampa Bay Derby and San Felipe Stakes from the weekend. watch video
Prospective landed a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) when he outfought Golden Ticket in deep stretch to win the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 10.
Steve discusses the fear of losing on the Derby trail. read blog
Take Charge Indy, second choice in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) March 10, has been withdrawn from the race, trainer Pat Byrne confirmed.
Jason Shandler and Tom LaMarra handicap the Tampa Bay Derby and San Felipe Stakes. watch video
The Tampa Bay Derby has produced two Derby winners in last five years. read blog
Three of the top four finishers of last month's Sam Davis are back for the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II), but it's a Todd Pletcher trained horse--go figure--making his stakes debut who will likely be favored.
Sam F. Davis Stakes (gr. III) winner Battle Hardened returned to the worktab Feb. 17 at Palm Meadows Training Center with an easy half-mile breeze in :49 4/5.
Track's stakes schedule offers purse money of about $2.6 million. Seven stakes races are offering increases of $25,000, fueled partially by contributions from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association.
WinStar Farm's promising 3-year-old homebred colt Cal Nation will point for the Jerome Handicap (gr. II) with a possible eye toward the May 21 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), according to racing manager Elliott Walden.
PORTER ON PEDIGREES, by Alan Porter
Gilbert Campbell's homebred Watch Me Go enters Derby fray & focuses spotlight on sire West Acre, from the immediate family of Tale of the Cat and Pulpit and Johannesburg and Minardi.
Watch Me Go, sent off at odds of 43-1, outdueled 86-1 longshot Crimson Knight by a neck to post a shocking upset in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (gr. III) March 12 at Tampa Bay Downs.
