Tampa Bay Derby | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tickets For Tampa Bay Derby Day Now On Sale

Tickets for Festival Day 41 Presented by Lambholm South on March 6 are now being sold on the Tampa Bay Downs website, www.tampabaydowns.com.

General Admission attendance will be capped at 2,500. Tickets are $15 plus a $2.55 service fee. Picnic Area tables sold out quickly, but a total of 100 individual Picnic Area spaces are being sold for $15 each, plus the service fee. Anyone purchasing a Picnic Area space must provide their own seating.

The General Admission and Picnic Area ticket price includes a commemorative cap.

Five stakes races will be contested on March 6, headed by the 41st running of the Grade 2, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby for 3-year-olds at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track.

The Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby is a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race, awarding qualifying points for the May 1 Run for the Roses to the first four finishers on a 50-20-10-5 scale. The Oldsmar showcase has produced two Kentucky Derby winners: 2007 Tampa Bay Derby winner Street Sense and 2010 Tampa Bay Derby third-place finisher Super Saver.

Turf-loving females will also be spotlighted. The Grade 2, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares – which has produced such top-class winners in recent years as Starship Jubilee (2020), Fourstar Crook (2018), Dickinson (2017), Tepin (2016), Stephanie's Kitten (2015) and Zagora (2012) – will be contested at a mile-and-an-eighth on the grass. The Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, first run on the turf in 2011, is slated for a mile-and-a-sixteenth.

Rounding out the March 6 stakes menu are the Grade 3, $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes for horses 4-years-old-and-upward at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main track and the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on the turf.

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Mott: Both Candy Man Rocket, Nova Rags ‘Earned Their Way Into Another Prep Race’

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who sent out 1-2 finishers Candy Man Rocket and Nova Rags in Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, said he hopes to return to Tampa Bay Downs with at least one of the 3-year-old colts on March 6 for the Grade 2, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.

“It was gratifying to see both horses pass the two-turn test,” said Mott, who sent his son Riley Mott to Oldsmar from south Florida for saddling duties. “They both ran big races and it looked like they were strong at the finish. They came out of the race well, so I think both horses would be possible for the (Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby).”

The March 6 card will feature five stakes, four graded, worth a total of $1-million in purse money. The other stakes include the Grade 2, $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes for older fillies and mares on the turf; the Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf; the Grade 3, $100,000 Challenger Stakes for horses 4-years-old-and-upward on the main track; and the $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds on the turf.

The victory by Candy Man Rocket was the first for Mott, jockey Junior Alvarado and owner Frank Fletcher Racing Operations in the Sam F. Davis. Alvarado also won Saturday's Grade 3, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes on the turf with 4-year-old gelding Get Smokin, owned by Mary Abeel Sullivan Revocable Trust and trained by Thomas Bush.

Alvarado and Mott teamed to finish second with 4-year-old filly New York Girl in the Grade 3, $175,000 Lambholm South Endeavour, won by Counterparty Risk.

Mott said he would prefer Candy Man Rocket and Nova Rags not square off again in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, run at the identical mile-and-a-sixteenth distance of the Sam F. Davis.

“It would be nice to run one of them there, knowing they both like the track, but maybe we will try to split them up next time,” he said.

Hidden Stash, who rallied for third, also looks like a good candidate for the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby.

Candy Man Rocket came into the Sam F. Davis off a 9 ¼-length, 6-furlong maiden special weight score on Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park, while Nova Rags was attempting to duplicate his victory here on Jan. 16 in the 7-furlong Pasco Stakes. The winner received 10 qualifying points on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby,” while Nova Rags, bred and owned by Michael Shanley, earned 4 points.

The points increase dramatically for the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, with 50, 20, 10 and 5 awarded to the first four finishers.

Mott stressed that both horses still have much to prove before entertaining serious thoughts of making it to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve starting gate on May 1.

“I know everybody this time of year is thinking of the Triple Crown, but there is still a long road ahead for that,” said Mott, who finished 1-3 in the 2019 Run for the Roses with Country House (moved up via disqualification) and that year's Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner, Tacitus. “You just have to take things one step at a time.

“Put it this way: I think both horses earned their way into another prep race.”

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Candy Ride Colt Tops Mott One-Two in Sam Davis

Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}), a blowout maiden winner at second asking at Gulfstream Jan. 9, led home a one-two finish for the Hall of Fame Bill Mott barn with a press-and-pounce, one-length score while making his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs.

Pasco S. winner Nova Rags (Union Rags) followed home his stablemate and just edged out the somewhat green Hidden Stash (Constitution) for second.

The Sam F. Davis carries 10-4-2-1 qualifying points on the Road to the GI Kentucky Derby.

The 3-1 second-choice forced the issue on the outside through fractions of :23.35 and :46.94 after exiting from post nine, and made his move to strike the front at the top of the stretch as Nova Rags began to sneak through an opening on the inside with a run of this own.

Candy Man Rocket was always going the better of the two, however. He enjoyed a 2 1/2-length advantage at the stretch call, and kept on finding down the lane to get the money.

Favored Known Agenda (Curlin), exiting a well-beaten third over sloppy going in the GII Remsen S. Dec. 5 and some very live maiden races last term for Todd Pletcher, got going too late from far back to finish fifth.

“[Candy Man Rocket] has some tactical speed and he put Junior [Alvarado] in a great spot,” said Riley Mott, assistant and son of winning trainer Bill Mott.

“He got into a real nice comfort zone down the backside and Junior let him out a notch going to the three-eighths pole, and at that point, there wasn't a whole lot coming from behind. He hit the front a little bit early, which was concerning–he's still inexperienced and sometimes when they get to the front too early, they tend to wander. Junior kept him to the task and he really ran on well and passed the two-turn test.”

As for what's next for the top two, Riley Mott added, “We have to see how the horses come back. Nova Rags has had two races in three weeks, and to bring him back in four [for the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby], we just have to look at the calendar and see what the options are. As far as Candy Man Rocket, he went over the track today, but we have to see how they come back.”

Seventh after showing some early interest in his sloppy, sprint debut at Churchill Nov. 22, Candy Man Rocket cruised by 9 1/4 lengths going six furlongs at Gulfstream last time Jan. 9, good for an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.

Candy Man Rocket brought $250,000 from Frank Fletcher at last year's postponed OBS Spring Sale after breezing a quarter in :21.

The Arkansas-based businessman also campaigns the MGSW & MGISP 'TDN Rising Star' homebred Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief), a winner in her 2021 comebacker in the American Beauty S. at Oaklawn last month.

Pedigree Notes:

It's been a long time since a leading sire list didn't include Candy Ride (Arg), who acquired his 49th graded winner and 96th black-type winner with Candy Man Rocket's first stakes score Saturday. Out of the Forestry mare Kenny Lane, Candy Man Rocket's third dam is a half-sister to champion Althea (Alydar), making Broodmare of the Year Courtly Dee (Never Bend) his fourth dam. The dynasty established by Courtly Dee included top sires Arch (Kris S.) and Green Desert (Danzig), as well as more recent stars like champion Covfefe (Into Mischief) and Breeders' Cup winner Bayern (Offlee Wild). Kenny Lane produced the colt Notacry (Orb) in 2019, who sold for $10,000 at Keeneland January in 2020, and a filly by Tonalist in 2020. She was bred back to Tonalist again for this spring. Kenny Lane brought $55,000 from Robert S. Evans in foal to Quality Road at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale.

Saturday, Tampa Bay Downs
SAM F. DAVIS S.-GIII, $200,000, Tampa Bay Downs, 2-6, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.30, ft.
1–CANDY MAN ROCKET, 118, c, 3, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Kenny Lane, by Forestry
2nd Dam: Vantive, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Embellished, by Seattle Slew
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($190,000 RNA Wlg '18 KEENOV; $70,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP; $250,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Frank Fletcher Racing Operations Inc; B-R S Evans (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Junior Alvarado. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $144,824. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Nova Rags, 118, c, 3, Union Rags–Wishful Splendor, by Smart Strike. ($275,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEESEP). O/B-Michael P Shanley (KY); T-William I Mott. $40,000.
3–Hidden Stash, 118, c, 3, Constitution–Making Mark Money, by Smart Strike. ($50,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-BBN Racing LLC; B-Rhineshire Farm LLC (KY); T-Victoria H Oliver. $20,000.
Margins: 1, NK, 2 3/4. Odds: 3.10, 8.30, 8.50.
Also Ran: Boca Boy, Known Agenda, Lucky Law (Ire), Joe Man Joe, Ricochet, Smiley Sobotka, Last Investment, Millean, Runway Magic. Scratched: Tiz Tact Toe.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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From the TDN Look: Keeping the Faith, Victor Martinez Believes in King Guillermo

Five-time MLB All-Star Victor Martinez is following a dream with King Guillermo– already a graded stakes winner who, after a seven-month layoff, is set to return to Grade I company.

King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) will be in a tough spot when he starts in the GI Cigar Mile H.at Aqueduct. The 3-year-old colt hasn’t raced since May 2 and has never faced older horses. That’s fine by his owner, retired MLB All-Star Victor Martinez.

“I’m not a big believer in favorites,” he said.

That was the theme throughout his baseball career and helped him surpass the modest expectations when he was a skinny kid out of Venezuela who got a mere $8,000 signing bonus from the Cleveland Indians as a 17-year-old prospect. He still feels that way, his beliefs strengthened by the emergence of the horse who seems to do his best when it is least expected.

During his playing days, Martinez was a casual racing fan who was first introduced to the sport as a boy in his hometown of Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela. He retired in 2018 and just a few months later decided it might be fun for his family if he were to own a few racehorses. His agent from his playing days put him in touch with trainer Juan Carlos Avila, who had recently arrived in the U.S. after a distinguished career in Venezuela. Martinez didn’t want to just own horses. He wanted to own special horses.

“I sat down with Juan Carlos and I told him, ‘Listen you’re not going to get a horse just to go to the Kentucky Derby, you’re going to pick the horse that will win the Kentucky Derby,'” Martinez said. “He looked at me, like this guy is crazy. I’ve been dreaming my whole life, my whole career. I came to the United States with zero dollars in my pocket. Why not keep dreaming?”

Avila didn’t have the heart to tell Martinez that was being unrealistic. The two were soon headed to the 2019 OBS April 2-Year-Old sale in search of that special horse Martinez seemed to think was easy to come by. Martinez knew little about racing, breeding and the sales, but understood that Uncle Mo was one of the sport’s best sires. He wanted one.

“I just wanted a son of Uncle Mo,” he said.

The one he picked out was out of the Dixieland Band mare, Slow Sand. From six foals of racing age, she had produced five winners but no stars. Then there was the colt’s size. He was on the small side, something that would turn off a lot of buyers but not Martinez. He felt a connection with the horse.

“The way we got him, it made me reflect on my career,” he said. “He was a little guy and if he had weighed 100 more pounds we wouldn’t have been able to buy him. He would have cost way more. I was the same way. When I first signed in professional baseball I was 120, maybe 130, pounds. At the time, I was a shortstop and I only got an $8,000 signing bonus. I put a lot of work in to get where I did. He was a little guy that a lot of people didn’t pay any attention to.”

He broke in with the Cleveland Indians as a shortstop, but was told by that organization that the only way he could make it was if he switched positions and became a catcher. He was so discouraged by that decision that he called his mother and told her he was quitting. She refused to let him give up, maybe the best advice he ever received.

That scrawny kid from Venezuela bulked up to 235 pounds and became a five-time All Star. Martinez had 246 home runs and 1,178 RBI in his career, hitting .295. In 2015, he signed a four-year $68 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.

So there was something about this horse that reminded him of himself. For $150,000, a reasonable sum for an Uncle Mo, Martinez purchased the horse.

Click here to continue reading on the TDN Look.

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