McCraken's absence likely to lead to big field for Tampa Bay Derby

The defection of McCraken from the Tampa Bay Derby has created a vacuum that appears likely to result in a sizable field for the annual marquee event at Tampa Bay Downs next Saturday.

Maybe 10 or more 3-year-olds could go postward in the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby, with Todd Pletcher now holding perhaps the strongest hand. Pletcher, who has won the Tampa Bay Derby four times – including three of the last four runnings – is expected to have two starters from the 14 horses he nominated.

Pletcher said Tapwrit, a late-closing runner-up behind McCraken in the local prep, the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 11, is definite to return from his winter base at Palm Beach Downs, while the second horse was to be determined after a final round of workouts this weekend. Third Day, a winner of both of his starts, is among those under serious consideration.

The 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby is worth 85 qualifying points toward the May 6 Kentucky Derby, with 50 to the winner.

Besides the Pletcher runners, the probable starters include at least three other holdovers from the Sam F. Davis: State of Honor (third), Wild Shot (fourth), and No Dozing (sixth).

Wild Shot was scheduled to breeze Saturday at Payson Park for Rusty Arnold. Arnaud Delacour, the trainer of No Dozing, said the colt’s final status depends on a Sunday breeze at Tampa.

Other prospects include Pasco Stakes winner The Money Monster, privately purchased this week and sent to trainer Bill Mott at Payson Park; Beasley and Lookin for Eight, both of whom were entered in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday but were under consideration to be scratched; and perhaps two or three longshots.

McCraken, the pro-tem Kentucky Derby favorite, was declared from consideration for the Tampa Bay Derby when diagnosed with a minor ankle injury following a Monday workout at Palm Meadows. Trainer Ian Wilkes is now looking to make the April 8 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland with the unbeaten colt.

Pletcher’s wins in the Tampa Bay Derby have come with Limehouse (2004), Verrazano (2013), Carpe Diem (2015), and Destin (2016). The 1:42.82 clocking by Destin is the stakes record from 37 runnings; it had been a track record until McCraken lowered it to 1:42.45 in the Sam F. Davis.

Entries for the Tampa Bay Derby card will be taken Wednesday. Four other stakes will be on the card: the Grade 2, $200,000 Hillsborough; the Grade 3, $200,000 Florida Oaks; the $100,000 Challenger; and the $75,000 Columbia.

Pletcher has the horse to beat in Isabella Sings in the Hillsborough, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for fillies and mares. Bred and owned by Siena Farms, Isabella Sings was a dominant wire-to-wire winner of the Grade 3 Endeavour on the Sam F. Davis undercard. Other Hillsborough probables include Dickinson, Elysea’s World, Family Meeting, and My Impression.

Among the notable Hillsborough nominees is Arles, the runner-up to Suffused in the Jan. 28 La Prevoyante at Gulfstream, but trainer Graham Motion said Friday that the French-bred mare is doubtful to run.

– additional reporting by Jay Privman