Prospective inched clear of Golden Ticket to win the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs
Mark Casse trained handsome dark bay/brown 3-year-old colt, Prospective needed a win to ensure his place in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May this year, in terms of graded earnings needed to find a spot in Churchill Downs’ main mid-season event.
The Kentucky bred son of Malibu Moon, in a field of 11 in the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs overhauled Golden Ticket in the deep stretch to ensure his victory in the 1 1/16 mile test by three quarters of a length.
The win was worth $210,000 in grade earnings, coupled with the runner up finish in the Grade 3, Sam F. Davis Stakes in his seasonal debut, and his first stakes win in the Grey Stakes over a distance of 1 1/16 miles at Woodbine. Prospective is good to go, and will be considered as a top contender come the Derby day.
In the Tampa Bay Derby, John C. Oxley owned, Prospective was sent as the 3 to 1 choice, broke from the rail under jockey Luis Contreras, and settled in mid-pack, while Cajun Charlie opened up a 4 ½ length lead for jockey Tracy Hebert.
Brian S. House trained colt clicked fine fractions in the 1 1/16 mile test, as he turned in the opening quarter mile in 22.69 seconds, and went half a mile in 47.08 seconds.
Out of mare Spirited Away by Awesome Again, Prospective with blinkers on, at the backstretch angled on the inside approaching the far turn. He went six furlongs in 1 minute and 11.61 seconds, and gained a slight advantage over the field after the marker.
Golden Ticket, however, pulled his head clear with a clear run, but Prospective had a lot left in him, as he started his move, and inched away as they reached the wire.
“I rode him pretty hard," laughed a hoarse Casse afterward. "Was I worried? Well, I wish he could have won by five. But was I worried, you know, he’s a fighter, I didn’t really think anybody would beat him once he made the lead. I was shocked he made the lead so early. I was like, well, OK, but with the blinkers he was much more aggressive today. He’s a character—he just does what he has to do.
"This horse to make it to the Derby, I think this horse thrives with racing, so we definitely would have to run another time somewhere. Maybe the Wood Memorial (gr. I)," Casse added.
With Take Charge Indy scratched, in the field of 11, Todd Pletcher’s Spring Hill Farm was sent as the 2 to 1 favourite, but he finished fourth, while Prospective took 1 minute and 43.35 seconds to finish the race, as Cozzetti finished third.
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