Tipsheet: 2026 Tampa Bay Derby

An excellent cast of nine sophomores will run 1 1/16 miles on the Tampa main strip in Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series contest will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale. 

Tampa Bay Derby Picks

• #6 Further Ado
• #8 The Puma
• #9 Canaletto
• #5 Powershift

Tampa Bay Derby Wagers

• $15 win and place #6 Further Ado
• $1 superfecta box 5,6,8,9

Tampa Bay Derby Contenders

#1 REDLAND REBELS: Dark bay son of Uncle Chuck missed by a neck in the Kitten’s Joy S. at Gulfstream Park last time out and will get back on the dirt in this tough assignment. The Patrick Biancone trainee has good speed and obvious ability, but this appears to be a very difficult spot for the Florida-bred. Junior Alvarado will ride the speedy sophomore. 

#2 TALKIN: Good Magic colt was second in the Champagne (G1) in his three-race juvenile season for Danny Gargan. The $600,000 yearling purchase has trained forwardly in advance of his 2026 debut, but I would rather watch one before backing him in a race with this kind of class. Joel Rosario has the call. 

#3 ROGER THAT DANA: Luis Ramirez trainee was last seen checking in second in the Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream behind subsequent Grade 2 star Commandment. The Awesome Slew three-year-old tired in the lane in his lone two-turn test to date, and he will need a big step forward to make the frame in this endeavor beneath Renzo Rojas. 

#4 HULKAMANIA: Whit Beckman trainee was a convincing winner in a seven-furlong debut on the surface and appears to have a bright future ahead of him. The son of McKinzie gave the impression of a horse that will thrive with more distance in his fine first-out tally, and he could be in the mix for a share with improvement against this cast with Jareth Loveberry in for the ride. 

#5 POWERSHIFT: $500,000 son of Constitution was well clear in second in a strong maiden run on this surface in his debut when earning a hefty 98 Brisnet Speed rating in the process. The Todd Pletcher pupil was pointing towards this race before he made his first start, and he looks like a very good prospect to me. John Velazquez picks up the mount atop the win threat. 

#6 FURTHER ADO: Brad Cox trainee bagged the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) in his final run of 2025 and has worked swiftly in the interim. The chestnut son of Gun Runner, who broke his maiden by 20 lengths at Keeneland two back, is two-for-two since stretching out in distance and gets the nod to pick up where he left off on Saturday. Irad retains the ride and will rally the colt from off the early tempo in his local bow. 

#7 THUNDER BUCK: Calumet homebred will make his first run since moving to the barn of Brendan Walsh. Gun Runner colt was last in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds in his third career endeavor and would be a big surprise to me with Samuel Marin in the irons. 

#8 THE PUMA: Essential Quality colt was a huge second in a maiden race on debut, which preceded a clear third in the Sam F. Davis S. on this oval most recently. The Kentucky-bred chestnut will benefit from having a run over the surface and will be well placed at the top of the lane with Javier Castellano on board. 

#9 CANALETTO: $1 million son of Into Mischief was extremely impressive in his dominant, eight-length debut win at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25 and has reportedly been working in fine fashion since his unveiling, as well. The Chad Brown trainee drew well on the outside of the field to avoid traffic, and the lightly raced bay has to be considered a major player in the tilt with expected improvement on Saturday. Flavien Prat comes in to keep the mount.