Twelve pursue Derby points in Tampa Bay Derby

Mar 08, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

A full field of 12 will square off in Saturday’s $400,000
Tampa Bay Derby (G3), a Road to
the Kentucky Derby series qualifier awarding points on a 50-20-15-10-5
basis to the top five finishers.

Here are three talking points for the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay
Derby.

1. Tapit
Trice the one to beat in stakes and two-turn debut

Tapit Trice confirmed himself
as an exciting prospect when recording an eight-length allowance win on the
Feb. 4 Holy Bull undercard at
Gulfstream Park, his second consecutive win over a one-turn mile distance, and
the gray colt will look to gain Kentucky Derby
qualifying points when stretching to two turns at Tampa Bay Downs.

Trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Todd Pletcher, Tapit
Trice tops the field with a 99 last-out Brisnet Speed rating, and Luis Saez
will be in to ride the probable favorite.

2. Groveland heads Davis alumni

Sam F. Davis (G3) winner Litigate will bypass the Tampa Bay
Derby, but runner-up Groveland heads
seven returnees from the Feb.
11 Kentucky Derby qualifier at Tampa Bay Downs. By 2007 Kentucky Derby
winner Street Sense, Groveland will look to establish up-close positioning in
the early stages with Daniel Centeno.

Classic Car Wash,
Classic Legacy, and Zydeceaux finished third-through-fifth
in the Davis. Dreaming of Kona
(seventh), Prairie Hawk (ninth) and Champions Dream (11th) are also back for
the Tampa Bay Derby.

3. Additional
new faces at Tampa

Along with Tapit Trice, Pletcher will send out Shesterkin, who wound up a clear second
to Tapit Trice in the aforementioned allowance. By Violence, the sire of
leading Kentucky Derby contender Forte, Shesterkin opened his racing career
with a convincing wire-to-wire maiden win at Gulfstream in late December, and
the dark bay colt promises to show speed Saturday with first-time blinkers and
new rider Edgard Zayas.

Lord Miles, a son
of Curlin, will seek to rebound for Saffie Joseph Jr. following a sixth as the 3-1
second choice in the Feb. 4 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park. Paco Lopez will pick up the mount. Freedom Road, who
exits an allowance win at Tampa in late January, is another new player looking
to make an impact.