Tampa Bay Derby

During his baseball career, Victor Martinez was known for being cool under pressure and good in the clutch. It appears that he has a horse with the same attributes. It looks like the presence of a former Major League All-Star is going to spice up this year's GI Kentucky Derby. Martinez, who debuted in the majors in 2002 with the Cleveland Indians, played a season-and-a-half for the Boston Red Sox, and retired after playing for the Detroit Tigers in 2018, is the owner of GII Tampa Bay Derby winner King...

Hustled from his wide draw to get over and press the pace early, King Guillermo forced the issue while out in the clear through splits of :23.89, :48.16 and 1:12 flat. He took over from longshot Relentless Dancer (Midshipman) nearing the straight, and soon found himself several lengths in front with nobody near him. Sole Volante kicked on up the rail into second, but never came close to threatening the upset winner. "I'm so happy, I say thank you to God and all the team--Mr. Juan Carlos Avila, the trainer,...

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. Results - Country Grammer ran well enough last week to sneak into my Kentucky Derby rankings, but not well enough to win any points, so I'm looking to bust out...

Moving from strength to strength since kicking off his career last October, Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) has been tabbed the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. A winner on the turf in his first two starts last season, including the Pulpit S. at Gulfstream Park Nov. 30, the gelding finished a credible third in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man S. and later in the month, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing bought a majority stake in the Triple Crown prospect, joining owners Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables...

TVG will continue its "Chasing the Derby" series Saturday with expanded coverage of the GII Tampa Bay Derby and the GII San Felipe S. TVG's Matt Carothers and Gabby Gaudet will be on site at Tampa Bay Downs with coverage and analysis of the key Kentucky Derby prep race as well as the full card from Tampa Bay Downs, which includes four additional stakes races. On the West Coast, Todd Schrupp, Simon Bray, Christina Blacker, Britney Eurton and Mike Joyce will lead the coverage of the San Felipe from Santa...

Patrick Biancone pulled off the improbable last Saturday in the GII Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream, winning a major prep for the GI Kentucky Derby with a horse who cost relatively little at the sales and appeared headed for a career on the grass. Now, can he do it all over again? A week after Ete Indien (Summer Front) won the Fountain of Youth, Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) will look to emulate his stablemate with a win in the GII Tampa Bay Derby. The similarities with the two are...

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-14, 3yo, 1m 40y, 1:38.88, ft. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS (c, 3, Constitution--Addison Run {SP}, by Unbridled's Song) had to overcome a few tense moments, but ultimately kicked off his sophomore season successfully Friday afternoon at Tampa. A nine-length debut winner sprinting in the Saratoga slop Sept. 2, the grey was second as the favorite behind a dominant performance from Maxfield (Street Sense) and ahead of last month's GIII Lecomte S. winner Enforceable (Tapit). His connections opted to skip a trip to the Breeders'...