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Brethren seeks to remain unbeaten in Tampa Bay Derby
Presuming no other defections other than Uncle Mo, Brethren would face eight others in the Tampa Bay Derby. Regardless of the number of actual participants. Brethren drew the widest post again Saturday and will seek to avoid a wide trip around the clubhouse turn. Three colts who passed the wire after Brethren in the Davis -- TOO EXPERIENCE (Drewman), WATCH ME GO (West Acre) and BEAMER (Vindication) -- all return in the hope of making amends in the Tampa Bay Derby. With the exception of Watch Me Go, who rated in mid-pack, the other two attempted to rally from far back while chasing a moderate pace. Too Experience did the better of the trio, finishing a length clear in second, but only 1 1/2 lengths separated the three at the wire. Making their stakes debuts in the Tampa Bay Derby are the Juddmonte Farms homebred STRIDING AHEAD (Empire Maker) and two-time winner FREE ENTRY (Tale of the Cat). A course-and-distance maiden winner by 6 3/4 lengths on February 5, Striding Ahead is trained by Bill Mott and hails from the family of Blue Grass S. (G1) winner Bandini and noted sire Stormy Atlantic. Striding Ahead's fourth dam was 1965 juvenile filly champion Moccasin, who was also named Horse of the Year by the Thoroughbred Racing Association. Free Entry, meanwhile, is undefeated in two starts this season for Chad Brown. Fourth behind Uncle Mo in his Saratoga debut last summer, Free Entry captured a six-furlong maiden in January and a one-mile allowance the following month, both at Gulfstream. The remainder of the Tampa Bay Derby field is composed of ECONOMIC SUMMIT (Malibu Moon), a Belmont maiden winner unraced since trailing the Nashua S. (G2) in November, and local prospects CRIMSON KNIGHT (Leroidesanimeaux [Brz]) and MOONHANGER (Malibu Moon). PLUCK (More Than Ready), impressive winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) in November after making a sustained bid from near the back of the field, was entered in a $30,000 open allowance scheduled as the 7TH race at one mile on the turf. He was also cross-entered in Saturday's Palm Beach S. (G3) at Gulfstream, but has been confirmed for the Tampa allowance. The Team Valor colorbearer stumbled badly at the start of the Juvenile Turf and averted near disaster when a rival slipped and fell in front of him entering the first turn. As much as 14 lengths down at one point, Pluck turned in an explosive rally to win going away by a length over subsequent Fountain of Youth S. (G2) winner Soldat (War Front). Also winner last season of the Summer S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine, Pluck will make his debut on Saturday for trainer Graham Motion, who took over training duties from Pletcher over the winter. An overseas trip to either the French Two Thousand Guineas (Fr-G1) or Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) is being considered for Pluck, who could have his final tune-up for either classic in the April 8 Transylvania S. (G3) at Keeneland.
Others of note here are Grade 3 winner and Suwannee River fourth IT'S TEA TIME (Dynaformer), Endeavour S. (G3) third DENOMINATION (Smart Strike), and the multiple Grade 2-placed GENERAL CONSENSUS (Giant's Causeway). Saturday's 12-race program also features the $75,000 Suncoast S., which has supplanted the Florida Oaks as the meet's top test for three-year-old fillies on dirt. Mazarine S. (Can-G3) winner WYOMIA (Vindication), sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G2) when last seen, will make her seasonal and dirt debut but could be overshadowed in the wagering by a pair of sharp Gulfstream maiden winners, MISS SMARTY PANTS (Smarty Jones) and ROYAL DELTA (Empire Maker). Also expected to take plenty of betting action is DEVILISH LADY (Sweetsouthernsaint), who captured the Sandpiper S. and Gasparilla S. earlier in the meet before a sixth in the Forward Gal S. (G2). Also in the lineup are the Grade 3-placed Florida Oaks third NIJI'S GRAND GIRL (Candy Ride [Arg]) and stakes winners HER SMILE (Include), THIRD CHANCE (Kafwain) and BLUE EYED SWEETIE (West Acre).
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