Belgrade may have earned spot in Tampa Bay Derby

Belgrade may have run himself into the Tampa Bay Derby by winning the Saturday opener, a first-level allowance at seven furlongs. The 3-year-old Hard Spun colt was making his second career start and his first for trainer Graham Motion after having been purchased last month at Keeneland for $700,000 by retired Visa executive Carl Pascarella and his wife, Yurie.

Belgrade earned a 72 Beyer when up in the final jumps under Hector Diaz Jr. He was following up on a Dec. 18 debut score at Fair Grounds for prior connections that equated to a 79 Beyer.

“The idea was to get to the Tampa Derby,” said Motion, who has winter strings at both Tampa and the Palm Meadows training center. “It’s a little quick back, but he seemed to come out of it well.”

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Belgrade will be faced with a tall task in the Tampa Derby as part of a lineup expected to be led by Classic Causeway, a sharp winner of the Feb. 12 Sam F. Davis.