Pletcher’s Spring Hill Farm will have his work cut out in the Tampa Bay Derby
The Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby is a brilliant prep race for Triple Crown hopefuls, as of 2006 at least one of the Tampa Bay Derby participant has gone on to compete in the Triple Crown, and the likes of Super Saver and Street Sense have gone on to
win the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, while Musket Man wasn’t so lucky with the finishing as he finished third in the 2009 edition of the race.
The race is scheduled on 10 March, 2012, at Tampa Bay Downs over a distance of 1 1/16 miles over the venue’s dirt course, and 10 colts will participate in the Grade 2 event.
It is almost impossible to think that Todd Pletcher wouldn’t be represented in the Tampa Bay Derby. This time the veteran trainer is sending out the undefeated 3-year-old colt, Spring Hill Farm, who is 2 up in as many starts.
The George Bolton owned colt broke his maiden at first asking at Gulfstream Park over its dirt course, going over a distance of seven furlongs on 14 January, 2012. Jockey John Velazquez was aboard the colt, and he guided him to a fantastic victory over Quick
Wit, who finished second and Grouse in third, while Spring Hill Farm covered the distance in 1 minute and 24.51 seconds, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 79.
He was then stretched out in distance to a mile on 11 February, 2012, over at Gulfstream Park’s dirt course. Under John Velazquez again, the pair fought their way out of traffic and got a clear run in the allowance/optional claimer, and this time earned
a Beyer of 85.
Spring Hill Farm defeated Unbridled Minister in second, and Vee One Rotate in third, while covering the 1 mile distance in 1 minute and 39.47 seconds.
The son of Malibu Moon, out of mare Spirited Away by Awesome Again, Prospective will be the one to watch out for in the Tampa Bay Derby, as the stakes winner is coming into the new season on top form exiting a second place finish in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis
Stakes at about 1 1/16 miles to winner Battle Hardened, who is also participating in the Tampa Bay Derby.
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