Tampa Bay Derby Explained

Class:	Grade III
Horse Race:	Tampa Bay Derby
Location:	Tampa Bay Downs Oldsmar, Florida, United States
Inaugurated:	1981
Race Type:	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Sponsor:	Lambholm South (since 2016)
Website:	Tampa Bay Downs
Distance:	miles
Surface:	Dirt
Track:	left-handed
Qualification:	Three-year-olds
Weight:	123 lbs with allowances
Purse:	$400,000 (since 2018)
Bonuses:	purse includes $50,000 for Florida breds

The Tampa Bay Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in March at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.^[1]

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 21 March 1981 as the Budweiser Tampa Bay Derby Stakes with sponsorship for Budweiser making it the richest stakes race at the track. The event was won by the long shot Paristo, who was part of the field entry of horses at the odds of 35-1 in a time of 1:45. Such was the immediate impact the event had that in 1984 the event was classified as Grade III.^[1] Budweiser ceased their sponsorship in 1987.^[1]

The event was downgraded to Listed in 1991 and held this status until 2002 when it was upgraded back to Grade III.^[2]

In 2007, Street Sense became the first Tampa Bay Derby participant to win the Kentucky Derby. In 2010, Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby after finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby.^[3]

In 2011 the event was upgraded to Grade II.^[2]

From 1995–2010, the Tampa Bay Derby and the Florida Oaks were run on the same race card. They were again presented on the same day in 2013, along with the Hillsborough Stakes, providing fans three graded stakes worth a combined $700,000.

The race has gained in popularity over the past few years and is now listed as high profile Championship series event on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Since 2016, the race has been called the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby due to sponsorship.^[1]

In 2023 the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association downgraded the event back to Grade III.^[4]

The 2024 edition of the race was run for purse money only with no wagering after problems from telecommunications supplier Lumen Technologies affected tote provider AmTote, leaving Tampa Bay Downs and several other tracks around the country unable to process wagers.^{[5] [6]}

Records

Speed record:

• 1:41.90 – Tacitus (2019)

Margins:

• 5 lengths  - Thundering Storm (1996), Carpe Diem (2015)

Most wins by a jockey:

• 2 – Richard Migliore (2000, 2001)
• 2 – Pat Day (1998, 2004)
• 2 – Eibar Coa (2003, 2008)
• 2 – Daniel Centeno (2009, 2014)
• 2 – John Velazquez (2013, 2015)
• 2 – Jose L. Ortiz (2017, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2004, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 – Eric Fein (2008, 2009)
• 2 – WinStar Farm (2015, 2018)

Winners

Year	Winner	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
align=center	2024	Domestic Product	Tyler Gaffalione	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.47	align=center	$350,000	align=center	III	^[7]
align=center	2023	Tapit Trice	Luis Saez	Todd A. Pletcher	Whisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.37	align=center	$360,000	align=center	III	^[8]
align=center	2022	Classic Causeway	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Brian A. Lynch	Clarke M. Cooper Family Trust & Kentucky West Racing	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.90	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[9]
align=center	2021	Helium	Jose C. Ferrer	Mark E. Casse	D. J. Stable LLC	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.55	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[10]
align=center	2020	King Guillermo	Samy Camacho	Juan Carlos Avila	Victoria's Ranch	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.63	align=center	$351,500	align=center	II	^[11]
align=center	2019	Tacitus	Jose L. Ortiz	William I. Mott	Juddmonte Farms	align=center	miles	align=center	1:41.90	align=center	$355,000	align=center	II	^[12]
align=center	2018	Quip	Florent Geroux	Rodolphe Brisset	WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.72	align=center	$355,000	align=center	II	^[13]
align=center	2017	Tapwrit	Jose L. Ortiz	Todd A. Pletcher	Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred & Robert V. LaPenta	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.36	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[14]
align=center	2016	Destin	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Twin Creeks Racing Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:42.82	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[15]
align=center	2015	Carpe Diem	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	WinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.60	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[16]
align=center	2014	Ring Weekend	Daniel Centeno	H. Graham Motion	St. Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.71	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[17]
align=center	2013	Verrazano	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher		align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.96	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[18]
align=center	2012	Prospective	Luis Contreras	Mark E. Casse	John C. Oxley	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.35	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[19]
align=center	2011	Watch Me Go	Luis Garcia	Kathleen O'Connell	Gilbert G. Campbell	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.25	align=center	$350,000	align=center	II	^[20]
align=center	2010	Odysseus	Rajiv Maragh	Thomas Albertrani	Padua Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.31	align=center	$300,000	align=center	III	^[21]
align=center	2009	Musket Man	Daniel Centeno	Derek S. Ryan	Eric Fein & Vic Carlson	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.67	align=center	$300,000	align=center	III	^[22]
align=center	2008	Big Truck	Eibar Coa	Barclay Tagg	Eric Fein	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.25	align=center	$300,000	align=center	III	^[23]
align=center	2007	Street Sense	Calvin H. Borel	Carl A. Nafzger	James B. Tafel	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.11	align=center	$300,000	align=center	III	^[24]
align=center	2006	Deputy Glitters	Jose Lezcano	Thomas Albertrani	Joseph Lacombe Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.26	align=center	$250,000	align=center	III	^[25]
align=center	2005	Sun King	Edgar S. Prado	Nicholas P. Zito	Tracy Farmer	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.98	align=center	$250,000	align=center	III	^[26]
align=center	2004	Limehouse	Pat Day	Todd A. Pletcher	Dogwood Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.99	align=center	$250,000	align=center	III	^[27]
align=center	2003	Region of Merit	Eibar Coa	Christophe Clement	Calumet Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.61	align=center	$250,000	align=center	III	^[28]
align=center	2002	Equality		H. Graham Motion	Pin Oak Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.66	align=center	$200,000	align=center	III	^[29]
align=center	2001	§ Burning Roma	Richard Migliore	Heather A. Giglio	Harold L. Queen	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.30	align=center	$200,000	align=center	Listed	^[30]
align=center	2000	Wheelaway	Richard Migliore	John C. Kimmel	Caesar P. Kimmel & Philip J. Solondz Kimmel	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.90	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[31]
align=center	1999	Pineaff	Jose A. Santos	Kenneth G. McPeek	Roy & Joyce Monroe	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.20	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[32]
align=center	1998	Parade Ground	Pat Day	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish III & Stephen S. Hilbert	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.40	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[33]
align=center	1997	Zede	Jerry Bailey	William I. Mott	Allen E. Paulson	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.80	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[34]
align=center	1996	Thundering Storm	Jorge A. Guerra	Don R. Rice	Deborah J. Artz	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.80	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[35]
align=center	1995	Gadzook	Gary Boulanger	J. Bert Sonnier	Du-Zee Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.20	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[36]
align=center	1994	Prix de Crouton	Mickey Walls	Lorne E. Berg	Lorne & Kathleen Berg	align=center	miles	align=center	1:46.60	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[37]
align=center	1993	Marco Bay	Ronald Dale Allen Jr.	Sarah A. Lundy	Jay Shaw	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.40	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[38]
align=center	1992	Careful Gesture	Robert Neal Lester	Elbert R. Dixon	Cecilia Dixon	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.80	align=center	$200,000	align=center	Listed	^[39]
align=center	1991	Speedy Cure	Ricardo D. Lopez	Harvey Culp	Susan B. Fisher	align=center	miles	align=center	1:46.20	align=center	$150,000	align=center	Listed	^[40]
align=center	1990	Champagneforashley	Jacinto Vasquez	Howard M. Tesher	Robert Baker, Howard Kaskel & Leon Feinbloom	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.60	align=center	$150,000	align=center	III	^[41]
align=center	1989	Storm Predictions	Steve Gaffalione	Luis Olivares	Three G Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.80	align=center	$150,000	align=center	III	^[42]
align=center	1988	Cefis	Eddie Maple		Ryehill Farm & R. Kirkham Partnership	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.40	align=center	$150,000	align=center	III	^[43]
align=center	1987	Phantom Jet	K. Keith Allen	Philip A. Gleaves	Aisco Stables	align=center	miles	align=center	1:43.80	align=center	$150,000	align=center	III	^[44]
align=center	1986	My Prince Charming	Craig Perret	Newcomb Green	Don Aronow Stable	align=center	miles	align=center	1:46.60	align=center	$159,000	align=center	III	^[45]
align=center	1985	Regal Remark	Jeffrey Fell	James E. Day	Sam-Son Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:46.80	align=center	$158,100	align=center	III	^[46]
align=center	1984	Bold Southerner	Wayne Crews	Paul M. Maxwell	Rusticwoods Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:44.60	align=center	$160,000	align=center	III	^[47]
align=center	1983	Morganmorganmorgan	Willie Rodriguez	Arthur Monteiro	Morgan Bishop	align=center	miles	align=center	1:47.20	align=center	$100,000	align=center		^[48]
align=center	1982	Reinvested	Rick D. Luhr	Stanley M. Hough	Harbor View Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.20	align=center	$66,900	align=center		^[49]
align=center	1981	‡ Paristo	David C. Ashcroft	George R. Handy	Belmont Farm	align=center	miles	align=center	1:45.40	align=center	$72,600	align=center		^[50]

Notes:
§ Ran as an entry
‡ Ran as the field entry

See also

• Road to the Kentucky Derby
• List of American and Canadian Graded races

External sites

Tampa Bay Downs Media Guide 2021

Notes and References

1. Web site: Tampa Bay Derby Profile. www.equibase.com. 12 March 2017. en.
2. Web site: TAMPA BAY DERBY - MULTIPLE TRACKS . Thoroughbred Pedigree Online . 2021 . 1 March 2021 .
3. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/60173/2011-graded-stakes-13-fewer-than-10 Blood Horse: 2011 Graded Stakes: 13 Fewer Than '10
4. Web site: American Graded Stakes Committee Releases 2023 Grades; The Stephen Foster Stakes is the only new grade 1 stakes for 2023. . 16 December 2022 . 28 December 2022 . Bloodhorse.com . Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.
5. Web site: Grening . David . 2024-03-09 . Domestic Product surges late in wagerless Tampa Bay Derby . 2024-03-11 . DRF .
6. Web site: Hegarty . Matt . 11 March 2024. Domestic Product surges late in wagerless Tampa Bay Derby . 11 March 2024 . Daily Racing Form.
7. Web site: 2024 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 9 March 2024 . 12 March 2024.
8. Web site: 2023 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 11) . Equibase . 12 March 2023.
9. Web site: 2022 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 12 March 2022 . 12 March 2022.
10. Web site: 2021 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 6 March 2021 . 8 March 2021.
11. Web site: 2020 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 7 March 2020 . 28 February 2021.
12. Web site: 2019 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 9 March 2019 . 28 February 2021.
13. Web site: 2018 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 10 March 2018 . 28 February 2021.
14. Web site: 2017 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 11 March 2017 . 28 February 2021.
15. Web site: 2016 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 12 March 2016 . 28 February 2021.
16. Web site: 2015 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 7 March 2015 . 28 February 2021.
17. Web site: 2014 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 8 March 2014 . 28 February 2021.
18. Web site: 2013 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 10) . Equibase . 9 March 2013 . 28 February 2021.
19. Web site: 2012 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 10 March 2012 . 28 February 2021.
20. Web site: 2011 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 2 - (race 11) . Equibase . 12 March 2011 . 28 February 2021.
21. Web site: 2010 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 11) . Equibase . 13 March 2010 . 28 February 2021.
22. Web site: 2009 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 11) . Equibase . 14 March 2009 . 28 February 2021.
23. Web site: 2008 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 12) . Equibase . 15 March 2008 . 28 February 2021.
24. Web site: 2007 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 12) . Equibase . 17 March 2007 . 28 February 2021.
25. Web site: 2006 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 11) . Equibase . 18 March 2006 . 28 February 2021.
26. Web site: 2005 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 10) . Equibase . 19 March 2005 . 28 February 2021.
27. Web site: 2004 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 11) . Equibase . 14 March 2004 . 28 February 2021.
28. Web site: 2003 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 11) . Equibase . 16 March 2003 . 28 February 2021.
29. Web site: 2002 Tampa Bay Derby Grade 3 - (race 12) . Equibase . 17 March 2002 . 28 February 2021.
30. Web site: 2001 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 12) . Equibase . 18 March 2001 . 28 February 2021.
31. Web site: 2000 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 11) . Equibase . 19 March 2000 . 28 February 2021.
32. Web site: 1999 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 21 March 1999 . 28 February 2021.
33. Web site: 1998 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 22 March 1998 . 28 February 2021.
34. Web site: 1997 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 23 March 1997 . 28 February 2021.
35. Web site: 1996 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 24 March 1996 . 28 February 2021.
36. Web site: 1995 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 10) . Equibase . 26 March 1995 . 28 February 2021.
37. Web site: 1994 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 27 March 1994 . 28 February 2021.
38. Web site: 1993 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 11) . Equibase . 28 March 1993 . 28 February 2021.
39. Web site: 1992 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 10) . Equibase . 29 March 1992 . 28 February 2021.
40. Web site: 1991 Tampa Bay Derby Listed - (race 9) . Equibase . 30 March 1991 . 28 February 2021.
41. Web site: Champagneforashley wins Tampa Bay Derby, stays unbeaten at 4 for 4 – (race 10: held 18 March 1990) . . 9 . 19 March 1990 . 28 February 2021.
42. Web site: Storm Predictions charges to victory – (race 10: held 19 March 1989) . . Mike . Henry . 136 . 20 March 1989 . 28 February 2021.
43. Web site: Win stamps Cefis as Derby contender – (race 10: held 20 March 1988) . . Mike . Henry . 121 . 21 March 1988 . 28 February 2021.
44. Web site: Phantom Jet wins Derby – (race 10: held 14 March 1987) . . Brian . Landman . 11 . 15 March 1987 . 28 February 2021.
45. Web site: My Prince Charming wins Tampa Bay Derby – (race 10: held 15 March 1986) . . . 583 . 16 March 1986 . 28 February 2021.
46. Web site: Regal Remark wins Tampa Bay Derby – (race 10: held 16 March 1985) . . . 45 . 17 March 1985 . 28 February 2021.
47. Web site: Longshot wins Derby by nose – (race 10: held 17 March 1984) . . Frank . Klein . 49 . 18 March 1984 . 28 February 2021.
48. Web site: Bishop enjoys luck Tampa gives 3-M – (race 10: held 19 March 1983) . . Tom . McEwen . 25 . 20 March 1983 . 28 February 2021.
49. Web site: Budweiser Tampa Bay Derby result – (race 10: held 20 March 1982) . . 25 . 21 March 1982 . 28 February 2021.
50. Web site: Long Shot (35-1) Paristo Pulls Off Derby Win – (race 10: held 21 March 1981) . . 11 . 22 March 1981 . 28 February 2021.