By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
lime store. verrazano Carpe Diem. Future. Tapwriting. What do these 5 foals have in widespread? truly loads. All conditioned by Corridor of Fame teacher Todd Pletcher. All competed within the Kentucky Derby (G1). And so they all gained the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.
No coach has gained the Tampa Bay Derby as a lot as Pletcher, a future Belmont S. (G1) winner (Tapwrit), a Belmont runner-up (Destin) amongst 5 winners in 2004, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017. and a two-time Class 1 winner (Carpe Diem and Verrazano) on a number of events. Pletcher saddles good horses within the Tampa Bay Derby and sometimes leaves with first prize.
All that is to preface Pletcher’s risk. Web page #6
He is rising as a star within the 2023 Tampa Bay Derby, which takes place this Saturday at over 1.1/16 miles. Offered for $1.3 million on the age of 1, the Tapit Trice confirmed nice potential and was among the many Kentucky Derby’s first favourites.
Tapit Trice, a valiantly bred son of three-time main sire Tapit’s stake-winning Dunkirk mare Danzatrice, debuted on the Aqueduct with a one-mile first particular weight and gained a variety of floor down the farm to complete third, dropping 2 1/2 size. He has not tasted defeat since.
Tapit Trice took its first victory by sticking a mile on the Aqueduct for the primary particular weight on December 17. Tapit Trice did not get the sharpest begin, however rebounded from seventh place in an eight-horse course, defeating the first-in-line winner, Slip Mahoney, by the neck. The efficiency was flattering when Slip Mahoney completed second to Gotham S. (G3) on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby final weekend.
Tapit Trice was then despatched to Gulfstream Park, claiming his three-year-old debut racing a mile with an allowance of $75,000. Going through simply 5 opponents, Tapit Trice accelerated barely sooner than traditional and stayed inside two lengths of preliminary pace. Then he made his technique to the quarter publish and clearly kicked the final lengthy distance to win by eight lengths.
Irrespective of the way you slice it, it was a formidable efficiency. The Tapit Trice earned a shocking 107 Brisnet Late Tempo score alongside sturdy pace numbers of 92 (Beyer) and 99 (Brisnet).
Tapit Trice might be not invincible on the Tampa Bay Derby. He faces 11 opponents, so his brisk working type places him prone to a traffic-filled experience. However the Tapit Trice’s flourishing kind and powerful pace figures mark him as a horse to beat, particularly while you add the Pletcher issue.
Who’re the opposite key contenders within the Tampa Bay Derby? We should always undoubtedly respect the second Pletcher trainee, Web page #9. Shesterskin, who was the primary to win seven lengthy distances at 2 1/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park, later completed second in Tapit Trice’s runaway allowance factors. Shesterkin provides flashers for his staked debut and cannot be counted out of the combo to get into the highest three.
4. GrovelandOne other good choice, inserting second to Tampa’s Sam F. Davis (G3) on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby final month. Nevertheless Web page #12 unquestionably engaging. That is proper, he by no means fired at Sam F. Davis and completed ninth by a large margin. However two begins backs paved the way in which to beat Groveland by one size within the optional-claimed $75,000 allowance, which raced a mile and 40 yards at Prairie Hawk, Tampa.
Prairie Hawk benefited from setting a slower tempo that day, however has the power to deal with quicker fractions. He adopted a runaway pacemaker from the second row earlier than kicking three begins again, a mile by 2 3/4 lengths in Tampa, and the primary particular weight at 40 yards.
Prairie Hawk is the son of two-time Horse of the Yr and distinguished father Curlin and half-brother to 2018 Tampa Bay Derby winner Quip, so there’s a variety of class in his pedigree. He additionally has heat human connections in his nook; coach Saffie Joseph has gained 4 to 9 (44%) in Tampa for the reason that begin of the yr, whereas jockey Samy Camacho has set a document of 240 to 61 (25%) in the identical time-frame. For those who’re prepared to place a restrict on the Prairie Hawk’s absence in Sam F. Davis, there’s loads to love about your probabilities.
Now it is your flip! Who do you’re keen on on the Tampa Bay Derby?
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J. Keeler Johnson (also called “Keelerman”) is a author, cameraman, voice actor, hurdler and all-round horse racing fanatic. As a giant fan of racing historical past, Dr. He considers Fager the best racehorse ever in-built America, however considers Zenyatta his all-time favorite.
#Pletcher #Win #Tampa #Bay #Derby
