Tampa Bay Derby

Road to the Kentucky Derby > Tampa Bay Derby

Tampa Bay Derby Race Facts

  • Location: Tampa Bay Downs, Tampa Bay, FL
  • Inaugural Race: 1981
  • Current Distance: 1 1/16 miles
  • Track Type: Left-Handed Dirt
  • Age Qualifications: Three-year-olds
  • Status: Grade 3
  • 2023 Purse: $400,000
  • 2023 Race Date: Saturday, March 11th

The Tampa Bay Derby, held each year in Florida at Tampa Bay Downs, is a Grade III race for 3-year-olds in mid-March. The race is part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby Championship Series with a 50-20-15-10-5 points system awarded to the top five finishers.

2023 Tampa Bay Derby Race Results

POSTHORSEJOCKEY / TRAINERWIN / PLACE / SHOW
6Tapit TriceLuis Saez / Todd A. Pletcher$3.00 / $2.40 / $2.20
2Classic Car WashEmisael Jaramillo / Mark E. Casse$7.40 / $5.00
3Classic LegacyIrad Ortiz, Jr. / William I. Mott$4.00
12Prairie HawkSamy Camacho / Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
1Lord MilesPaco Lopez / Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.
8Dreaming of KonaScott Spieth / Aldana Gonzalez
9ShesterkinEdgard J. Zayas / Todd A. Pletcher
4GrovelandDaniel Centeno / Eoin G. Harty
11ZydeceauxSamuel Marin / Ramon Minguet
5Mikey BananasPablo Morales / Timothy E. Hamm
10Champions DreamAntonio A. Gallardo / Mark E. Casse
7Freedom RoadHector Rafael Diaz, Jr. / Gregory D. Sacco

Exotic Payoffs:

  • $1 Exacta (6-2) Paid: $11.00
  • $0.50 Trifecta (6-2-3) Paid: $23.80
  • $0.10 Superfecta (6-2-3-12) Paid: $47.27

Watch the 2023 Tampa Bay Derby

History of the Tampa Bay Derby

The Tampa Bay Derby (G3) is run in mid-March at Tampa Bay Downs, and the 1 1/16 mile race has a purse of $400,000 and is a major prep for the Kentucky Derby. The winner receives 50 qualifying points and a spot in the starting gate to the Kentucky Derby, and the next four finishers in the race receive 20-15-10-5 points.

The race was inaugurated in 1981, and over the past decade it has become a more popular race with inclusion on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Six jockeys (Richard Migliore, Pat Day, Eibar Coa, Daniel Centeno, John Velazquez, and Jose L. Ortiz) have won the race two times, and trainer Todd Pletcher has won the race a record six times.
In 2007, Street Sense became the first participant to win the Kentucky Derby. In 2010, Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby after finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby.

In the 2017 race, Tapwrit set the then speed record with a winning time of 1:42.36. The even money favorite made it look like a gift, galloping past the pace setter State of Honor and running home to victory by more than four lengths. Tapwrit went on to win the Belmont Stakes, and the 2016 winner Destin finished 2nd in the Belmont by a nose. Two years later, Tacitus took Tapwrit’s crown after turning in a time of 1:41.90.

The 2015 winner had a short but strong career, as Carpe Diem was runner up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile before winning the Tampa Bay Derby, Blue Grass Stakes and retiring after the Kentucky Derby due to injury.

Tampa Bay Derby Past Winners

YearWinnerJockey / TrainerDistance / Time
2023Tapit TriceLuis Saez / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.37
2022Classic CausewayIrad Ortiz, Jr. / Brian A. Lynch​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.90
2021HeliumJose C. Ferrer / Mark E. Casse​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.55
2020King GuillermoSamy Camacho / Juan Carlos Avila​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.63
2019TacitusJose L. Ortiz / William I. Mott​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:41.90
2018QuipFlorent Geroux / Rodolphe Brisset​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.72
2017TapwritJose L. Ortiz / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.36
2016DestinJavier Castellano / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:42.82
2015Carpe DiemJohn R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.60
2014Ring WeekendDaniel Centeno / H. Graham Motion​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.71
2013VerrazanoJohn R. Velazquez / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.96
2012ProspectiveLuis Contreras / Mark E. Casse​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.35
2011Watch Me GoLuis Garcia / Kathleen O'Connell​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.25
2010OdysseusRajiv Maragh / Thomas Albertrani​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.31
2009Musket ManDaniel Centeno / Derek S. Ryan​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.67
2008Big TruckEibar Coa / Barclay Tagg​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.25
2007Street SenseCalvin H. Borel / Carl A. Nafzger​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.11
2006Deputy GlittersJose Lezcano / Thomas Albertrani​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.26
2005Sun KingEdgar S. Prado / Nicholas P. Zito​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.98
2004LimehousePat Day / Todd A. Pletcher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.99
2003Region of MeritEibar Coa / Christophe Clement​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.61
2002EqualityRamon A. Dominguez / H. Graham Motion​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.66
2001§ Burning RomaRichard Migliore / Heather A. Giglio​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.30
2000WheelawayRichard Migliore / John C. Kimmel​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.90
1999PineaffJose A. Santos / Kenneth G. McPeek​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.20
1998Parade GroundPat Day / Neil J. Howard​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.40
1997ZedeJerry D. Bailey / William I. Mott​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.80
1996Thundering StormJorge A. Guerra / Don R. Rice​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.80
1995GadzookGary Boulanger / J. Bert Sonnier​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.20
1994Prix de CroutonMickey Walls / Lorne E. Berg​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.60
1993Marco BayRonald Dale Allen Jr. / Sarah A. Lundy​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.40
1992Careful GestureRobert Neal Lester / Elbert R. Dixon​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.80
1991Speedy CureRicardo D. Lopez / Harvey Culp​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.20
1990ChampagneforashleyJacinto Vasquez / Howard M. Tesher​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.60
1989Storm PredictionsSteve Gaffalione / Luis Olivares​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.80
1988CefisEddie Maple / Woodford C. Stephens​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.40
1987Phantom JetK. Keith Allen / Philip A. Gleaves​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:43.80
1986My Prince CharmingCraig Perret / Newcomb Green​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.60
1985Regal RemarkJeffrey Fell / James E. Day​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:46.80
1984Bold SouthernerWayne Crews / Paul M. Maxwell​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:44.60
1983MorganmorganmorganWillie Rodriguez / Arthur Monteiro​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:47.20
1982ReinvestedRick D. Luhr / Stanley M. Hough​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.20
1981ParistoDavid C. Ashcroft / George R. Handy​1 1⁄16 miles / 1:45.40