OLDSMAR - The trail to Louisville for the first weekend in May went through Tampa Bay Downs during the current meet with many horses standing out in different divisions on their way to compete in the marquee graded stakes on the Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs.

    The cast for the 152nd edition of the $5 million Kentucky Derby features five staters and one also eligible who each turned heads at the Oldsmar oval during the track’s 100th  anniversary season. Leading the pack is Renegade, who took the Sam F. Davis (Listed) by an impressive 3 ¾ lengths on February 7 under five-time champion jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher and the Into Mischief colt is the 4-1 Derby morning line favorite in the 20-horse field.

    Renegade will be joined in the starting gate by 6-1 co-second choice Further Ado, The Puma (10-1), Emerging Market (15-1), and Albus (30-1). Ocelli waits in the wings as an also-eligible for the 20-horse field. Renegade, owned by Repole Stable and Robert and Lawana Low, skipped the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3) one month later and added a win in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Nonetheless, The  Puma, who is conditioned by Gustavo Delgado, Sr., and the Brad Cox-conditioned Further Ado  took center stage in the track’s signature event and engaged in a thrilling stretch battle that ended with The Puma in front by ¾ length on March 7.

    Klaravich Stables Emerging Market proved he was an emerging talent on the Sam Davis Day undercard when he graduated from the maiden ranks at first asking with Flavien Prat aboard. The next time the colt handled the class hike to win the Louisiana Derby (G2) for Prat and five-time champion trainer Chad Brown and he heads into the Kentucky Derby undefeated. Albus also announced his presence here by virtue of a 6 ¾ lengths score when breaking his maiden for trainer Riley Mott on February 27 and then he went on to take the Wood Memorial (G2).

    There are also horses with Tampa Bay Downs 2026 connections racing on Saturday’s Derby undercard. Dual American and Canadian Hall of Famer Mark Casse saddles My Boy Prince, winner of the Turf Dash here, in the Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G2) and Columbia Stakes victor Alpyland in the American Turf (G1). Five-time Eclipse Award winner Bill Mott sends out Capital Idea, second in a February 15 allowance, in the Knicks Go overnight handicap.

    Racing fans can root for and wager on the local favorites while sipping mint juleps in an official Kentucky Derby souvenir glass at the track’s Kentucky Derby Party featuring a full card of live racing followed by the simulcast of the 152nd Run for the Roses.

    First post for live racing is 12:15 p.m. and the Kentucky Derby post is 6:57 p,m.

    Tampa Bay Downs 100th Anniversary live racing season concludes on Sunday with free admission and reduced prices on beer, hot dogs, and soda. comments powered by Disqus