OLDSMAR, Fla. – Todd Pletcher has won the Tampa Bay Derby a record five times, but he doesn’t want to hear it. “I’ve lost it more than that,” he deadpanned. True, but c’mon. Pletcher will take a shot at extending his record to six when he sends out three starters here Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs in what was expected to be a capacity field of 12 3-year-olds for the 40th running of the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby. Eighty-five qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the May 2 Kentucky Derby are at stake. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Pletcher’s five Tampa Bay Derby wins came with Limehouse (2004), Verrazano (2013), Carpe Diem (2015), Destin (2016), and Tapwrit (2017). This year, he will send out Market Analysis, Texas Swing, and Unrighteous. Chance It, with a career-high 99 Beyer Speed Figure, and Sole Volante, who got a 96 Beyer in winning the Sam F. Davis Stakes here four weeks ago, are the most accomplished runners in a 1 1/16-mile race. Most of the other expected starters are eligible for a first-level allowance or lower. Chance It, still seeking his first Derby points after being scratched last Saturday from the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park, has won three stakes, all ungraded, while Sole Volante earned 10 Derby points with his first stakes victory in the Davis. Entries for the Tampa Bay Derby and four other Saturday stakes on a 12-race card are to be released late Wednesday. Those expected for the Tampa Derby, in alphabetical order, are Bye Bye Melvin, Chance It, King Guillermo, Letmeno, Market Analysis, Mo Mosa, Relentless Dancer, Sole Volante, Spa City, Texas Swing, Tons of Gold, and Unrighteous. Paco Lopez has the call on Chance It for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., while Florent Geroux will ride Sole Volante for Patrick Biancone. Luca Panici won the Davis on Sole Volante but has been sidelined with a fractured collarbone since Feb. 22. Geroux also replaced Panici when he rode Ete Indien to an 8 1/2-length romp for Biancone in the Fountain of Youth. Other top jockeys expected in from Gulfstream for the day include John Velazquez, Javier Castellano, Joe Bravo, and Julien Leparoux. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Market Analysis and Texas Swing each won a maiden race in his most recent out, while Unrighteous, a Calumet Farm homebred, is winless in two starts. But in a key Feb. 8 maiden race at Gulfstream, he finished just a length behind Spa City, who could be one of the top wagering choices here Saturday behind the two obvious favorites. “They’re all training well, and we’ll send them over hoping for the best,” said Pletcher. “Now’s the time to find out where we stand.” Kiaran McLaughlin is the trainer of Spa City, a Godolphin homebred who earned a 91 Beyer in his maiden triumph. “He’s a big, strong, happy horse, very good mentally,” said McLaughlin, who announced this week he will retire from training to become the agent for jockey Luis Saez at month’s end. “I really didn’t like seeing Chance It scratched [from the Fountain of Youth] because it makes our assignment more difficult, but the bottom line is you need to see where you are, anyway. We’ll see where we fit.” Every starter except Bye Bye Melvin, based at Tampa for Graham Motion, and Mo Mosa, in from Turfway Park, were scheduled to ship from Gulfstream or training centers also located on the Atlantic Coast. Chance It was scheduled to arrive here Friday accompanied on the van by Joseph, while Sole Volante will be arriving from Palm Meadows. The Pletcher trio all will come from his winter base at Palm Beach Downs. The Saturday forecast calls for bright sunshine and a high of 66.