Verrazano Makes Graded Debut In Tampa Bay Derby
The highly thought of Verrazano, who has pummeled two fields in succession to start his career for conditioner Todd Pletcher, is the headliner in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) this Saturday. The son of More Than Ready was a dynamic debut winner at Gulfstream and came back on that oval to annihilate allowance foes by more than 14 lengths, and he could be really any kind in advance of his stakes debut. John Velazquez will be in town to pilot the impressive prospect.
Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) victor Uncaptured is unraced since that tally in the fall but has worked well to ready for this and should not be taken lightly in this one. The Mark Casse trainee may try and avoid the big favorite, but if he runs here, he gets attention. The top two from the Sam F. Davis S. (G3), Falling Sky and Dynamic Sky, loom large for minor awards in the very least having experience on this tricky main oval. Fountain of Youth (G2) third Speak Logistics, unbeaten Purple Egg, Hutcheson S. (G2) star Honorable Dillon and Kenny McPeek’s Java War, unplaced in the Jockey Club in his most recent race, are also likely to be on board for this event.
On the undercard at Tampa Bay is the $150,000 Hillsborough S. (G3), a nine furlong grass race for fillies and mares.