Tote Problems Tarnish Tampa Bay Derby Card
Tote problems that were not fully explained as of 8:30 p.m. ET March 9 played havoc with the late races of the Tampa Bay Downs card Saturday, its most important live race day of the year.
Tote problems that were not fully explained as of 8:30 p.m. ET March 9 played havoc with the late races of the Tampa Bay Downs card Saturday, its most important live race day of the year.
Daniel Alonso's millionaire Skippylongstocking returns to form March 9 by winning the Challenger Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs for the second consecutive year.
Up against one of the toughest fields of her career in the March 9 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T) at Tampa Bay Downs, Sparkle Blue rose to the occasion with a glittering front-running victory over more highly touted rivals.
Greg Wolf & Sara Elbadwi look ahead to the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby from Tampa Bay Downs and Grade 2 Azeri at Oaklawn
J. Keeler Johnson handicaps the Tampa Bay Derby and Santa Ysabel.
Making his first start after being walked off in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Skippylongstocking will try to repeat as the victor of the $100,000 Challenger Stakes (G3) March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) winner No More Time battles Domestic Product and eight other rivals in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) March 9.
If the trainers of grade 1 winners Marketsegmentation and Aspen Grove were hoping for a soft return spot from off the bench, the Tampa Bay Downs racing office had other plans.
Unstarted since running a close fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) last fall at Santa Anita, stakes-winning Austere resumes racing against a deep and promising cast March 9 in the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3T) at Tampa Bay Downs.
Tampa Bay Downs will highlight accredited aftercare during Tamp Bay Derby (G3) race day by honoring Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance with a named race on the Tampa Bay Derby undercard.