Quip's stakes victory a major milestone for trainer Brisset

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Tears of unbridled joy are easy to spot in the aftermath of the Kentucky Derby, but not necessarily after one of its prep races eight weeks out.

Yet there was Brooke Baker crying her eyes out as Quip made his return to the Tampa Bay Downs winner’s circle early Saturday evening. Baker and Rodolphe Brisset, the trainer of Quip, were married about a year ago, and the colt’s upset triumph in the Tampa Bay Derby meant the world to them.

Brisset opened his own stable less than a year ago after being around great horses for some 11 years as a top lieutenant to Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. The transition has not been particularly easy, and with Quip being his first stakes winner, the emotions came pouring out.

“It’s been a busy and long year,” said Brisset, 34. “The beginning has been tough. We’ve worked very hard to get here. It was very rewarding.”

Brisset exercises Quip on a regular basis, while his wife ponies for the stable – so she, too, had a hand in victory.

“She’s with him every day, so this was pretty big for her, too,” Brisset said.

Quip, a 19-1 outsider under Florent Geroux, got a perfect trip in winning the 38th Tampa Bay Derby by a length over Flameaway, with the front-running favorite, World of Trouble, another neck back in third. Vino Rosso was nearly five lengths back in fourth in a field of nine 3-year-olds.

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays, and analysis

Quip earned 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby on May 5 at Churchill Downs, so he doesn’t necessarily have to race again – although Brisset is fully aware that he probably should, given the Tampa Bay Derby was the colt’s 3-year-old debut and just his fourth start overall. Without committing to a final prep, Brisset said an April 7 race, either the Blue Grass or Wood Memorial, would be a logical spot for the son of Distorted Humor.

“We will give ourselves a day or two to enjoy it,” he said early Sunday. “I was at the barn this morning at 5. He was tired, but he looks good. I’m sure we’ll come up with a plan.”

Quip, bred and co-owned by WinStar Farm, earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure when finishing the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.72 over a fast track. The next two finishers each got a 92 Beyer.

WinStar and partners already have Audible, Justify, Noble Indy, National Flag, and New York Central as Kentucky Derby prospects. Quip’s ownership group consists of WinStar, China Horse Club, and SF Racing.

Brisset, whose main winter base has been Fair Grounds, said he would stay here with Quip and that the colt will ship to Keeneland around March 20 as the trainer consolidates for the spring. Leigh Bentley has overseen a small string for Brisset here all winter.

Meanwhile, Flameaway, already a four-time stakes winner from eight career starts, ran another big race under Jose Lezcano, although the colt weaved a bit down the stretch. He now has 30 Derby points, which surely is enough to make the cut, and likely will run back in the Blue Grass at Keeneland, said trainer Mark Casse.

“I don’t know if it cost him the race, but Jose had a tough time getting him straightened out,” said Casse. “He was dipping and diving before he made that last run. I’ll tell you, I couldn’t be more pleased. He’s good this morning, and like I told Jose, at least we know we have a Derby horse.”

World of Trouble, pounded down in the last cycle or two of wagering in becoming the 8-5 favorite over Vino Rosso (2-1), ran well in his first start around two turns, yielding only in the last 100 yards. Trainer Jason Servis said Sunday morning via text message that he is unsure of what will be next for the Kantharos colt.

Untamed Domain, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up who was trying dirt for the first time, most likely will return to turf, said Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds, with the Grade 2 American Turf on the May 5 Derby card the target. The colt got a 72 Beyer in a distant sixth-place finish.

The 38th Tampa Bay Derby, the last of five straight stakes here Saturday, capped a record day for all-sources handle, with the final tally being $14,859,632 for the 12-race card. The former record of $12,250,446 was set on Tampa Derby Day 2016.