Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Tampa Bay Downs comes our way from Tampa Bay Downs this Saturday March 8. The race will feature three year old Kentucky Derby hopefuls as they go 1 1/16 miles on Tampa Bay Downs's main track looking for the winner's share of the $350,000 purse and the 50 qualification points toward the Kentucky Derby in May.
A competitive field of 10 three years olds will line up in the Tampa Bay Derby - race 11 on Santa Anita's Saturday card. Post time is 5:25 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all 10 entries for this Grade 2 stakes - seven of the 10 entries either won or finished within a length of the winner last time out.
Vinceremos - impressive Todd Pletcher trained colt is coming off a terrific win in the Sam F. Davis Stakes on this track February 1 in his third career start. He debuted with a second and broke maiden January 4 at Gulfstream before his stakes debut. Vinceremos will collect a $1 million bonus if he wins the Tampa Bay Derby and the Kentucky Derby in May. Edgar Prado gets the mount from post 6 on Vinceremos who is the 120 pound highweight for the Tampa Bay Derby.
Conquest Titan - has run in some big races with less-than-stellar results - a thirteenth in the Breeders' Cup Futurity and a fifth in the Grade 1 Dixiana Breeders' Futurity are among the bad. But he had an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Churchill Downs November 30 and is coming off a promising second behind Cairo Prince in the Grade 2 Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream January 25. Conquest Titan has two wins and a second in six career starts but looks his best at the present time. He starts from gate 5 with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard.
Matador -highly regarded Mark Casse trained colt most recently finished fourth in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on this track February 1 after an equally disappointing sixth after encountering interference in the minor Coronation Futurity at Woodbine November 17. He had a great win in the Cup and Saucer Stakes at Woodbine October 20 to follow an OK third behind Go Bro in the Grade 2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine September 14 and a fourth in his debut - the minor Vandal Stakes August 11. Matador looks like an average colt ahead of this weekend and will have Julien Leparoux aboard from post 3.
Cousin Stephen - most recently finished third behind Vinceremos in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on this track February 1 after a fifth in an Allowance Optional Claiming January 3 and after breaking maiden at Aqueduct in his second career start November 7 - his only win and the only time that he has placed in his four race career. Javier Castellano will get the call from post 8.
East Hall - has an astounding 11 career starts already for trainer William Kaplan and is coming off an OK fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream February 22. This after a pair of thirds - the OBS Championship Stakes at Ocala Training Center January 21 and the Gulfstream Park Derby at Gulfstream January 1. He has just two wins with a second and four third place finishes in his 10 career starts and despite being the most experienced entries is a long shot to contend. He will line up in gate 7 with Juan Leyva in the saddle.
Coltimus Prime - has three career starts - all at Woodbine. Last time out was a second in the minor Display Stakes December 8 after breaking maiden November 17 and debuting with an ugly seventh place finish in September. Gary Boulanger will be guiding Coltimus Prime from the 4-hole Saturday.
Tuscan Getaway - has seven career starts with two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes and is coming off one of his wins - an Allowance score at Woodbine November 16. He has raced four minor stakes in his career posting a pair of thirds at Woodbine, a fifth three back at Presque Isle Downs and a second behind Storming Inti in the Awad Stakes two back at Belmont Park in October. He starts from the far outside post with Joseph Rocco in the reins.
Ring Weekend - WH. Graham Motion trainee has steadily improved every time out in his five race career. He finally broke maiden last time out at Gulfstream February 8 after a second January 18 and a pair of thirds in the fall. He starts from the rail Saturday with Daniel Centeno aboard for his stakes debut.
Surfing U S A - Todd Pletcher trained colt makes his stakes debut Saturday but has looked OK in his career so far. He is coming off a second in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream January 25 after breaking maiden November 30 at Aqueduct and finishing second in his debut. Jose Lezcano has the mount from post 2
Hy Kodiak Warrior - makes his stakes debut Saturday having placed in five of six career starts -all at Gulfstream. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming January 3 after a pair of seconds in Allowance races to end 2013. Gabriel Saez gets the call from post 9.
Race 11 on Tampa Bay Downs's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:25 PM.
Entry |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
ML Odds |
1 |
Ring Weekend |
D. Centeno |
H. Motion |
15-1 |
2 |
Surfing U S A |
J. Lezcano |
T. Pletcher |
3-1 |
3 |
Matador |
J. Leparoux |
M. Casse |
8-1 |
4 |
Coltimus Prime |
G. Boulanger |
J. Nixon |
15-1 |
5 |
Conquest Titan |
S. Bridgmohan |
M. Casse |
7-2 |
6 |
Vinceremos |
E. Prado |
T. Pletcher |
4-1 |
7 |
East Hall |
J. Leyva |
W. Kaplan |
10-1 |
8 |
Cousin Stephen |
J. Castellano |
C. Brown |
9-2 |
9 |
Hy Kodiak Warrior |
G. Saez |
M. Navarro |
10-1 |
10 |
Tuscan Getaway |
J. Rocco, Jr. |
R. Griffith |
20-1 |