Kentucky Derby Update: The Derby Dispatch for Thursday, March 6, 2025

Mar 06, 2025

Brisnet Past Performances for Tampa Bay Derby: https://www.brisnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/TampaBayDerby25.pdf

Inside the Kentucky Derby Podcast: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses/news/inside-the-kentucky-derby-tampa-bay-derby-preview-and-contender-updates/

Complete Derby Dispatch: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/03/20250306-Derby-Dispatch.pdf

 

JOURNALISM, SOVEREIGNTY STEP UP AS TOP DERBY CONTENDERS; CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES CONTINUES SATURDAY WITH TAMPA BAY DERBY

With just eight weeks remaining until the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade I), two major contenders took a step forward last Saturday with impressive 3-year-old debuts. Sovereignty surged past River Thames in the Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park, while Journalism ran down heavy 2-5 favorite Barnes in the San Felipe (GII) at Santa Anita and stamped themselves as serious players on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Meanwhile, at Aqueduct, Flood Zone sprang a 17-1 upset in the one-mile Gotham (GIII) and earned him a chance to likely stretch out around two turns in his next start, according to trainer Brad Cox.

This Saturday, the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series shifts to Tampa Bay Downs for the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), a race that has produced Kentucky Derby winners Super Saver (2010) and Street Sense (2007).

Following the Tampa Bay Derby, only nine opportunities remain to garner qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

 

MULTIPLE GRADE I WINNER CHANCER McPATRICK RETURNS IN TAMPA BAY DERBY – Flanagan Racing’s two-time Grade I winner Chancer McPatrick is set to make his 3-year-old debut against six rivals entered in Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), a Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series contest.

The Tampa Bay Derby, the marquee race of the Tampa Bay Downs season, will go as Race 11 with a post time 5:34 p.m. ET. The 1 1/16-mile contest will award the top five finishers qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale toward a spot in the starting gate for the $5 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Chad Brown, Chancer McPatrick has been preparing for his 3-year-old debut since late January at Payson Park in South Florida. The son of McKinzie won three times as a 2-year-old, highlighted by victories in the Hopeful Stakes (GI) at Saratoga and the Champagne Stakes (GI) at Aqueduct during the Belmont at the Big A meet. He finished sixth as the 2-1 second choice in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) before undergoing minor ankle surgery. Chancer McPatrick will add blinkers for the Tampa Bay Derby and break from post 2 under Flavien Prat.

Stablemate Hill Road is also set to make his 3-year-old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby, his first start for Brown after previously being trained by Adrian Murray. Owned by AMO Racing USA, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) third-place finisher will also add blinkers in the Tampa Bay Derby and break from post 3 with Tyler Gaffalione aboard.

Flying Dutchman Breeding and Racing’s Owen Almighty continues his Road to the Kentucky Derby campaign after a narrow runner-up finish to John Hancock in the Sam F. Davis (Listed), the local prep for the Tampa Bay Derby. Trained by Brian Lynch, Owen Almighty won the seven-furlong Pasco Stakes in early January and captured the Ellis Park Juvenile as a 2-year-old. Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount from the rail.

Also entered in the Tampa Bay Derby are CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm’s Patch Adams, an eye-catching 10-length maiden special weight winner; Gold Square’s Filoso, third in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI); D J Stable’s allowance winner Brodeur; and Mr. Pug and Jpg 2’s Naughty Rascal, who won the Pasco Stakes.

The field for the Tampa Bay Derby in post position order (with jockey and trainer):

Owen Almighty (Irad Ortiz Jr., Brian Lynch)
Chancer McPatrick (Prat, Brown)
Hill Road (Gaffalione, Brown)
Brodeur (Jose Ortiz, Mark Casse)
Filoso (Dylan Davis, Chad Summers)
Naughty Rascal (Samy Camacho, Gerald Bennett)
Patch Adams (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox)
TAMPA BAY DERBY QUOTES

Chancer McPatrick (trainer Chad Brown): “Over the last three weeks, he’s made up a lot of ground quick. I wasn’t quite sure he was going to get there in time. He’s about 80 percent ready, that’s good enough to get him started. We’ll run him here and evaluate what we’re going to do after that.”
Filoso (jockey Dylan Davis): “He’s a pretty straightforward horse to work. He switches his leads when asked. He’s not too fast out of the gate but he picks up the bridle quickly after he breaks.”
Owen Almighty (trainer Brian Lynch): “He is coming out of his last race as good as we could have hoped and he’s trained well since that race. So, we’re excited about bringing him back to Tampa to give him another try. There’s always a concern when a horse runs as hard as he did but he may have had more experience to absorb it a little better. He’s given us every sort of vibe to say ‘let’s have another go.’ … He’s probably got some distance limitations and there are some very good races for 3-year-olds over the summer at shorter distances.”
HOW TO WATCH THE TAMPA BAY DERBY –

FanDuel TV and FS2 will have live, on-site coverage at Tampa Bay Downs.
Stream live on TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
KEY RACES TO WATCH TO WATCH – This weekend there are several races around the world that could have implications on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Here are some of the key races:

 

Saturday

TAM, R6 (2:55 p.m.), MSW, 3yo, 7 F
OP, R8 (5:12 p.m.), MSW, 3yo, 1 1/16 M
TAM, R11 (5:34 p.m.), $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII), 3yo, 1 1/16 M
Sunday

GP, R9 (5:08 p.m.), OC 75000n1x, 3yo, 1 M
OP, R8 (5:12 p.m.), MSW, 3yo f, 1 M
DOWN THE STRETCH – The Euro/Mideast Road to the Kentucky Derby will have its penultimate race on Friday, the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Patton Race, carded as Race 7 at 3 p.m. ET over the all-weather surface at Dundalk. The field of five 3-year-olds includes Group I winner and Triple Crown nominee Mount Kilimanjaro (FR) for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. The final race in the series is the April 5 UAE Derby (GII). …

Trainer Brad Cox stated he is keeping several options open for Gotham (GIII) winner Flood Zone’s next start. He stated possible targets include the March 29 Florida Derby (GI), April 5 Wood Memorial (GII) and April 5 UAE Derby (GII). …

Trainer Michael McCarthy said the Santa Anita Derby (GI) would be the most likely next step for Journalism prior to the Kentucky Derby. …

Florida Derby (GI) contender Tappan Street continues to tune up for the April 5 race at Payson Park. Most recently, the Holy Bull (GIII) runner-up breezed a half-mile in :49.80. “He’s a very nice colt and continues to train forwardly for the Florida Derby. The race will only be his third start but he’s shown a lot of natural talent in the morning and afternoon,” trainer Brad Cox said. …

Jockey Flavien Prat is scheduled to ride Rapture in next Saturday’s Virginia Derby and will then travel to Fair Grounds to be aboard John Hancock in the Louisiana Derby (GII). Both horses are owned by WinStar Farm and CHC Inc and trained by Brad Cox. …

Entries for the March 15 Virginia Derby and Virginia Oaks at Colonial Downs will be taken Saturday. The Virginia Derby is expected to include Grade I winner Gaming. …

UPCOMING ROAD TO KENTUCKY DERBY RACES

 

March 15 (seven weeks out) -- $500,000 Virginia Derby, 1 1/8 miles, Colonial Downs (Top 5 points: 50-25-15-10-5)

Known possible starters (with trainer): American Promise (Wayne Lukas); Gaming (Bob Baffert); Omaha Omaha (Michael Gorham); Rapture (Brad Cox); Test Score (Graham Motion)

 

March 22 (six weeks out) – $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Baby Max (Kelsey Danner); Built (Wayne Catalano); Caldera (Wayne Lukas); Chunk of Gold (Ethan West); East Avenue (Brendan Walsh): Instant Replay (Brad Cox); John Hancock (Brad Cox); Yinzer (Steve Asmussen)

 

March 22 (six weeks out) – $777,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Baby Max (Kelsey Danner); California Burrito (Tom Drury Jr.); Charlie’s to Blame (Peter Eurton); Flying Mohawk (Whit Beckman)

 

March 29 (five weeks out) – $1 million Florida Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Disruptor (Todd Pletcher); Flood Zone (Brad Cox); Grande (Todd Pletcher); Neoequos (Saffie Joseph Jr.); River Thames (Todd Pletcher); Sovereignty (Bill Mott); Tappan Street (Brad Cox)

 

March 29 (five weeks out) – $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Coal Battle (Lonnie Briley); Getaway Car (Bob Baffert); Instant Replay (Brad Cox); Sandman (Mark Casse); Speed King (Ron Moquett)

 

April 5 (four weeks out) – $1.25 million Blue Grass (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Burnham Square (Ian Wilkes); Disruptor (Todd Pletcher); East Avenue (Brendan Walsh); Grande (Todd Pletcher); Poster (Eoin Harty); River Thames (Todd Pletcher); Sovereignty (Bill Mott)

 

April 5 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Baeza (John Shirreffs); Barnes (Bob Baffert); Citizen Bull (Bob Baffert); Getaway Car (Bob Baffert); Journalism (Michael McCarthy)

 

April 5 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 5 points: 100-50-25-15-10)

Known possible starters (with trainer): Captain Cook (Rick Dutrow Jr.); Disruptor (Todd Pletcher); Flood Zone (Brad Cox); Getaway Car (Bob Baffert); Grande (Todd Pletcher); Poster (Eoin Harty); Sand Devil (Linda Rice); Sovereignty (Bill Mott);

 

April 12 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 5 points: 20-10-6-4-2)

 

Note: The possible fields for upcoming Kentucky Derby Championship Series races are fluid as owners and trainers vie for points. Known possible horses mentioned to be under consideration for each race are based on published news reports and other sources. Horses listed in italics are possible for multiple races.