Man, am I glad that there is only one Derby Prep Race this weekend. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing I love more than a Saturday filled with reading racing forms and begging for a horse to get to the wire. With that being said, I’m a Kentucky native and if there is one thing that I was born with it’s a love for March Madness & Kentucky Basketball. None the less, hopefully this little preview of the 2023 Tampa Bay Derby will help you win some money betting ponies while watching this weekend’s conference tournaments.
#6 Tapit Trice is a Heavy 8/5 ML Favorite
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Todd Pletcher & Luis Saez are connecting yet again for a heavy Morning Line Favorite. Tapit Trice comes off a very impressive win last time out in an allowance race and seems to be improving each time out. I would typically be hesitant to take a horse going from Allowance to Stakes in this spot, but this horse has already beaten similar. This is one of the weaker renditions of this race, but I still think Tapit Trice is going to have to come with his best stuff to avoid being upset.
#3 Classic Legacy Looks for Better Trip
Coming off a disappointing 4th place finish in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay last month, Classic Legacy looks to bounce back against a bit of a weaker field and gain 50 points to the KY Derby. Classic Legacy broke poorly and got caught wide the entire trip in the Sam F. Davis but was able to rally late from off the pace to finish 4th. My guess here is that trainer Bill Mott encourages Irad Ortiz to have this horse more forwardly placed to sit just off the pace and come charging late.
The Rest of the Field is Rather Disappointing
Outside of the two horses I previously mentioned, I’m not sure who my next choice would be. There are a lot of wildcard horses in this field, who have raced against each other numerous times. #2 Classic Car Wash (Mark Casse) and #9 Shesterkin (Todd Pletcher) are both intriguing horses in this spot but lack the consistency for me to trust. I think this could be one of those races where you put the 2 favorites on top of all and just hope you get a long-shot bomb underneath.
My Pick: #6 Tapit Trice
This is two previews in a row that I have picked the chalk of the race. If you know me, there is nothing more I love in the world than finding a way to beat the favorite in a horse race. Unfortunately, Luis Saez/Todd Pletcher seem to be the cream of the crop in this field. I was very tempted to take a shot on #3 Classic Legacy, and betting against Irad Ortiz has borderline become a crime at this point but I simply think that #6 Tapit Trice is just much the best in this spot. I will more than likely key this horse on top in all my exotics. (Suggested play: $5 Exacta 6/2,3,9,12) All in a $20 wager.
10 Tampa Bay Derby Fun Facts:
1. The Tampa Bay Derby was originally run on turf until 1987 when it was switched to dirt.
2. The Tampa Bay Derby was not always a graded stakes race. It was only upgraded to a Grade II race in 2007.
3. The Tampa Bay Derby has had some longshot winners over the years, including Ring Weekend, who won at odds of 16-1 in 2014 and Watch Me Go, who won at odds of 43-1 in 2011.
4. Some notable horses that have won the Tampa Bay Derby include Street Sense, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2007, and Tapwrit, who won the Belmont Stakes in 2017.
5. In 2003, the Tampa Bay Derby was run in two divisions due to a large number of entries.
6. Only one horse has ever won the Tampa Bay Derby twice: Speedy Pick (1991 and 1992).
7. The Tampa Bay Derby is not the only major horse race that takes place at Tampa Bay Downs. The track also hosts the Grade III Sam F. Davis Stakes, which is another key Kentucky Derby prep race.
8. The Tampa Bay Derby has a unique trophy that is awarded to the winning owner. The trophy is a replica of the track's historic paddock fountain, which was built in the 1930s.
9. In addition to the horse race, the Tampa Bay Derby Day also features a festival-like atmosphere with live music, food vendors, and family activities.
10. The fastest time ever recorded in the Tampa Bay Derby was set by Tapwrit in 2017, when he completed the race in 1:42.36.
