Tampa Bay Derby Day Preview

Authors: The Ortiz Brothers, Emily Shields

Five stakes races bolster a 12-race card at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, March 9, led by the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The race drew a field of 11 vying for Kentucky Derby points, including 50 to the winner and 20 to the runner up.

The Ortiz brothers, Jose and Irad, both have mounts in the 1 1/16 mile race. Irad is aboard #7 Win Win Win, and Jose will ride #10 Tacitus.

Irad said of Win Win Win, “I’m very excited to ride this horse. I want to thank Mike (Trombetta) and the owners for this opportunity. This colt won the Pasco Stakes impressively while setting a new track record. He has a tremendous bloodline that includes the double crowned Smarty Jones and the multiple G1 winner in Japan, Hat Trick, so the distance looks like it’s not going be a problem for him. Last three workouts speak for themselves. We got a good post position. And he’s a winner over Tampa Bay track. I’m looking forward to this race.”

Jose said of Tacitus, “He’s a well bred horse. I had the opportunity to be the rider on both of his two races including his victory at Aqueduct on 11/10/2018 at a mile. Tacitus has been working really good at Payson Park. It’s a tough race, but he’s developing well, and is in great hands (trainer Bill Mott).”

Irad is looking for his first Tampa Bay Derby victory. Jose will try to emulate the 2017 performance when he won with Tapwrit, who went on to win the Belmont Stakes (G1).

Other Tampa Bay Derby contenders include #4 Dream Maker for Mark Casse, won an allowance at the Fair Grounds by 8 ½ lengths; #5 Well Defined, who won the local prep for this in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3), and #6 Outshine for Todd Pletcher, who was an impressive allowance winner at Gulfstream Park on February 10.

On the undercard, the Ortiz duo will ride for Chad Brown in the Grade 3 Florida Oaks (Irad on #1 La Feve (Fr) and Jose on #7 Blowout (GB)), and the Grade 2 Hillsborough Stakes (Irad on #7 Rymska, Jose on #8 Onthemoonagain (Fr)). The competition in the Florida Oaks includes the Wayne Catalano-trainee #3 Winter Sunset, an unbeaten daughter of millionaire Winter Memories, while #2 Hawksmoor (Ire) is the danger in the Hillsborough; she won the local prep, the Endeavour, on February 9.

First post is 12:12pm Eastern time. The Tampa Bay Derby goes as Race 11.