Owen Almighty pointed to Tampa Bay Derby
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Though trainer Brian Lynch plans on cutting Owen Almighty back in distance this spring, he will give him one more race around two turns in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby on March 8.
Following Owen Almighty’s half-length defeat to John Hancock in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis on Feb. 8, Lynch indicated he would focus on one-turn races and mentioned the Lafayette on April 4 at Keeneland as a potential next start as a lead-in to the Pat Day Mile on Kentucky Derby Day at Churchill Downs. But the Tampa Bay Derby, run at 1 1/16 miles, will be contested over a track where Owen Almighty has twice run well and would give the horse more time before the Pat Day Mile.
“He came up a [half-length] short, but he ran well, and he’s trained on good since then,” Lynch said. “We’ll run him in the Tampa Bay Derby and then head to the Pat Day Mile for sure.”
Prior to his defeat in the Sam F. Davis, Owen Almighty finished first in the Pasco Stakes but was disqualified and placed fifth for interference with Rookie Card going into the far turn.
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