Candy Man Rocket, winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 6, is expected to head a large field for the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 6.
The 41st annual Tampa Bay Downs showcase is one of five stakes races scheduled on the Festival Day 41 Presented by Lambholm South card. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds on dirt is a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier, providing points on a 50-20-10-5 basis to its top four finishers.
Also Saturday is the $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T), for older fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf; the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3T), for 3-year-old fillies ar 1 1/16 miles on turf; the $100,000 Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes (G3), for horses 4-years-old-and-upward at 1 1/16 miles on dirt; and the ungraded $75,000 Columbia Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile on turf.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, who won the 2019 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby with Tacitus , sent Frank Fletcher Racing's Candy Man Rocket out for a four-furlong breeze Feb. 28 in :48 3/5 at Payson Park, the fastest of 36 workouts at the distance.
"He was on his own, he went well and I'm very pleased with him. He looked as smooth as silk," Mott said via telephone. "He is a good work horse anyway, but I liked the way he did it. The (Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby) has been on our minds since he won the Sam F. Davis. Any time you get a horse that runs well over that racetrack, you have to give it consideration."
Junior Alvarado will again come up from Gulfstream Park to ride Candy Man Rocket.
The trainer said he is still debating the next start for his Sam F. Davis runner-up, owner/breeder Michael Shanley's Nova Rags, who won the Pasco Stakes here on Jan. 16. Mott said the March 13 Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, the March 20 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and the March 27 Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) at Gulfstream are all under consideration.
Sittin On Go, who won Iroquois Stakes (G3) last September at Churchill Downs, is expected to make his first start in the Tampa Bay Derby since a sixth-place finish on Jan. 30 in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream. The Albaugh Family Stables-owned colt is trained by Dale Romans.
Also expected to compete in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby are the third and fourth-place finishers in the Sam F. Davis, Hidden Stash and the gelding Boca Boy. Hidden Stash is owned by BBN Racing and trained by Victoria Oliver and Boca Boy is owned by Kenneth E. Fishbein and trained by Cheryl Winebaugh.
Trainer Todd Pletcher, who has won the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby a record five times, including three in a row from 2015-2017, is expected to return with Woodford Thoroughbreds and WinStar Farm's Promise Keeper and Whisper Hill Farm's Unbridled Honor.
King of Dreams, Helium, Hello Hot Rod, Moonlite Strike, Super Strong, and My Liberty are other possible starters.
