2017 Tampa Bay Derby Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby will take place this Saturday, March 11 from Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Florida. Some of the best three year olds around will be featured when they take to Tampa Bay's dirt track and race 1 1/16 miles for the winner's share of the $350,000 and the 50-20-10-5 points awarded toward Kentucky Derby qualification.

A wide-open field of 10 have been confirmed for the Tampa Bay Derby - race 11 on Tampa Bay's stacked Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:27 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all 10 entries for this important and intriguing G3 stakes - one that will NOT feature McCracken or Classic Empire.

2017 Tampa Bay Derby Entries at Tampa Bay Downs

Tapwrit 3-1 - has two wins and a second place finish in four career starts for trainer Todd Pletcher. He debuted with a tenth and has been good in three starts since - a maiden score at Gulfstream Park West October 6 was followed by a nice win in his stakes debut- the $75,000 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park December 10 and a quality second behind McCracken last time out at 9-1 odds in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on this track February 11. Tapwrit has been on a serious upward trajectory this winter and will be out to keep that roll going Saturday from post 5 with Jose Ortiz aboard the tepid morning line favorite.

State Of Honor 4-1 - Mark Casse trained colt has a win, two seconds and two third place finishes in eight career starts. He made his graded stakes debut February 11 and finished a decent third behind McCracken and Tapwrit after fading in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on this track after consecutive runner-up finishes in minor stakes action - behind Sonic Mule in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes at Gulfstream January 7 and the Coronation Futurity at Woodbine November 13. Before that was a maiden score at Woodbine and three off-the-board finishes in similar races on that track this past summer. State of Honor has been good lately and will be after a first stakes score Saturday. Julien Leparoux will be in the reins of the second betting choice from gate 8.

Bet Tampa Bay Downs Horse Racing with OffTrackBetting.com

Beasley 9-2 - has three career starts for trainer Mark Hennig with a win and a pair of runner-up finishes. He makes his stakes debut Saturday on the heels of consecutive seconds in Allowance Optional Claiming races at Gulfstream Park. He won his debut at Aqueduct in December. Beasley has been decent so far and steps up in decent form. Irad Ortiz will be in the saddle from gate 6.

Wild Shot 5-1 - has five career starts for trainer George Arnold and has hit the board in all but one - a win, two seconds and a third place finish. His win came at Churchill Downs September 18 after a second at Ellis Park in his debut August 20. He has been decent in three graded stakes races since - a fourth last time out in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on this track February 11 followed a second behind the terrific McCraken in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs November 26 and a third in the G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland October 8. Wild Shot has been knocking on the door of his first ever stakes win and will try to get that Saturday with Robby Albarado guiding him from post 9.

Sonic Mule 6-1 - Todd Pletcher trained colt has eight career starts and has placed in all - four wins, a second and three third place finishes. He enters off an OK third in his stakes debut - the G2 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park February 4 which followed a nice three race win streak - the minor Mucho Macho Man Stakes January 7, the minor Buffalo Man Stakes December 10 - both at Gulfstream Park and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream Park West November 3. His only other graded stakes result to date was a third in the G2 Saratoga Special in August. Sonic Mule has been a factor in every career start so far and is expected to be again Saturday from post 7 with John Velazquez aboard.

No Dozing 6-1 - has five career starts for trainer Arnaud Delacour with two wins and a second place finish. He won his first two career starts including an Allowance Optional Claiming at Laurel Park September 10 and followed that with an OK step up into stakes company - a fourth in the G1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland October 8. Last time out was a somewhat disappointing sixth in the G3 Sam F. Davis Stakes here February 11 which followed a very respectable runner-up finish in the G2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct November 26. No Dozing has been up and down so far, has been training well and hopes for a first stakes win in his fourth try. Daniel Centeno gets the call from gate 4.

Basha 12-1 - Gilberto Zerpa trained colt has placed in all four career starts - two wins, a second and a third place finish. He makes his graded stakes debut Saturday off an OK third in the minor Just One More Stakes February 8 and a second in the minor Smooth Air Stakes December 10 - both at Gulfstream. He won his first two starts - the best of which was an Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream Park West in October. Basha has been competitive so far and hopes to be again Saturday from post 3. Emisael Jaramillo rides.

The Money Monster 15-1 - will hit the track for just the third time for trainer Bill Mott looking to remain undefeated. Last time out was a successful stakes debut - a win in the minor Pasco Stakes on this track January 21 after an impressive maiden score at first asking at Gulfstream Park West in November. The Money Monster has been impressive so far and hopes his success translates Saturday in what marks a pretty big step up in competition. Joel Rosario has been tabbed to ride from gate 2.

Tale of Silence 15-1 - has just one win and a third place finish in six career starts for trainer Barclay Tagg. He enters off an OK second in an Allowance Optional Claiming February 12 which followed a seventh in a similar race January 6 - both results at Gulfstream Park. Before that was a sixth in his only graded stakes action to date - the G2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct November 26, a fifth in an Allowance at Keeneland October 20 and a maiden score at Belmont Park September 24. Tale of Silence hasn't been all that impressive lately but hopes to make a serious statement Saturday with Paco Lopez in the reins from the rail.

Zion Valley 50-1 - has just one second and one third place finish in six career starts for trainer Kevin Rice. He makes his stakes debut Saturday off a third and a fourth respectively in a pair of Maiden Claiming races on this track - the last coming March 3. Before that was a fourth in a MSW at Presque Isle Downs in October and a second in a Maiden Claiming on that track in September. Zion Valley takes a major step up in competition in less-than-spectacular form and will have Huber Villa-Gomez guiding him from the outside gate 10.

2017 Tampa Bay Derby Odds & Entries

Race 11 on Tampa Bay Downs's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:27 PM.