Thomas McCarthy’s GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa) recorded a convincing upset
last month in the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, drawing clear to a 3
1/2-length decision at 13-1 odds, and the gray colt will solidify his status as
a Kentucky Derby (G1) contender with another strong showing in Saturday’s
$300,000
Tampa Bay Derby (G3). He’ll face some new shooters in the 1 1/16-mile event,
including Hutcheson S. (G2) runner-up HELLO BROADWAY (Broken Vow), Holy Bull S.
(G3) runner-up BEAR’S ROCKET (Lion Heart), Risen Star S. (G3) fourth-placer
NOWHERE TO HIDE (Vindication) and stakes debuter WARRIOR’S REWARD (Medaglia
d’Oro).
James Lopez will retain the mount on the McCarthy-trained General Quarters,
who recorded runner-up finishes in the Inaugural S. and Pasco S. before breaking
through in the Sam Davis. The Kentucky-bred has really flourished since arriving
at Tampa Bay Downs this winter. Pasco hero and Sam Davis third-placer MUSKET MAN
(Yonaguska) will resume his rivalry with General Quarters as will Inaugural
winner TOP SEED (Grand Slam), who exits a sixth in the Sam Davis. The Graham
Motion-trained SUMO (Fusaichi Pegasus), second at 33-1 in the Sam Davis, is also
part of the 11-horse field.
Hello Broadway will make his first start around two turns on Saturday. A
fast-finishing second in his juvenile finale, the Nashua S. (G3), the Barclay
Tagg runner showed speed when making his 2009 bow in the Hutcheson and held well
for runner-up honors. Eibar Coa, who was up for all three of the promising
colt’s starts last season, will regain the mount. Bear’s Rocket exits a fine
showing in his dirt debut, the nine-furlong Holy Bull, in which he set the pace
before yielding grudgingly in midstretch. The Reade Baker-trained colt still
finished a clear second, and local Tampa rider Ron Allen Jr. will pick up the
mount.
Nowhere to Hide, a maiden winner two starts back for Nick Zito, is eligible
to improve off a troubled fourth in his stakes debut last time at the Fair
Grounds. Cross-entered to Saturday’s Louisiana Derby (G2), the bay colt drew the
far outside in that spot and will instead contest the Tampa Bay Derby from post
3. Warrior’s Reward attracted attention when capturing his career bow at
Gulfstream Park in impressive fashion on January 30, rallying from far back to
win going away by a length, and he exits an encouraging runner-up to highly
regarded Dunkirk (Unbridled’s Song) in a nine-furlong allowance on February 19.
New rider Carlos Montalvo will guide the Ian Wilkes pupil.
Earlier on Tampa Bay Downs’ card, a field of seven sophomore fillies will go
1 1/16 miles in the $200,000
Florida Oaks (G3). The two-turn test drew the top three finishers from the
Suncoast S., the local prep for the Florida Oaks.
ROCK CANDY (Mineshaft) held off all comers on that day to take her third
straight race and keep her record perfect after being transferred to trainer
Michael Zwiesler. Previously, the chestnut miss captured the Gasparilla S. in
January and broke her maiden in late December, with both starts coming at the
Tampa, Florida, venue. Montalvo, aboard for all three wins, retains the mount
Saturday.
AMERIBELLE (Medaglia d’Oro) just missed by a neck in the Suncoast while
holding DON’T FORGET GIL (Kafwain) to third by that same margin. The dark bay
miss is still seeking her first stakes triumph and will get a jockey switch to
Eibar Coa in the Florida Oaks. Don’t Forget Gil captured the East View S. for
New York-breds at Aqueduct in early December and was favored to win the Suncoast
following a third in the Busanda S. at the Big A. She’ll get Rajiv Maragh, in
the irons for the East View, back aboard for this one.