Sole Volante might stick around for Tampa Bay Derby

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Sole Volante could run back in the Tampa Bay Derby after breaking through as Kentucky Derby candidate Saturday in winning the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Dean Reeves, whose Reeves Thoroughbred Racing purchased controlling interest in Sole Volante last month, said Sunday that a return to Tampa for the March 7 Tampa Bay Derby is a logical next step but that he will need to consult in due course with trainer Patrick Biancone as to how to proceed. The 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby is worth 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5). Biancone is based at the Palm Meadows training center on the Atlantic Coast.

“We’ll have to figure out the spacing between races and the points we’ll need” to make the Kentucky Derby, said Reeves. “We’ll look at everything involved, how the horse recovers from the race, whether he can run back in four weeks or might need more time.

“We were absolutely thrilled with Sole Volante’s performance and the way he did it. It looked like he could’ve just kept on going. It really was a great day for us.”

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Sole Volante, a gelding by Karakontie, earned a career-best 96 Beyer Speed Figure with his third victory from four career starts. Reeves co-owns him with Andie Biancone, the trainer’s daughter, and the Limelight Stables Corp. of restaurateur Sam Villardito.

For Biancone, who last ran a horse in the Derby in 2005, Sole Volante has emerged as a second possibility for the 146th Derby. He also has the Holy Bull runner-up, Ete Indien, on his Palm Meadows shed row.

Biancone’s best finish from three Derby starters was Lion Heart, second to Smarty Jones in 2004.

Meanwhile, trainer Mike Trombetta said he is going to take a few days to decide on his next course of action with Independence Hall, who incurred his first defeat in four career starts when finishing second. The Constitution colt remains stabled at Tampa.

“Lots to consider,” said Trombetta.

Ajaaweed, the 3-1 second choice in the Davis, closed belatedly to finish 13 3/4 lengths behind Sole Volante in third after falling some 20 lengths behind on the backstretch. The Shadwell Stable homebred is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.

“He actually ran on pretty well,” said McLaughlin, adding he will talk with Shadwell general manager Rick Nichols in determining a next start.

The Davis was the last of four straight stakes on an eventful Festival Preview card. Trainer Arnaud Delacour won the first two, the Grade 3 Endeavour with Jehozacat (91 Beyer) and the Suncoast with Lucrezia (82 Beyer), while Admiralty Pier (96 Beyer) prevailed for trainer Barbara Minshall in a three-way photo and survived a stewards’ inquiry in winning the Grade 3 Tampa Bay.

Delacour said Sunday that both of his winners emerged in good order. Jehozacat likely runs back in the Grade 2 Hillsborough on the Tampa Bay Derby undercard, while Lucrezia, who earned 10 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Oaks, could wait for the April 4 Ashland at Keeneland.

Easily the biggest disappointment of the day was Got Stormy, fourth as the 1-5 favorite in the Endeavour.

“She’s fine this morning,” trainer Mark Casse said Sunday. “She’s back here in Ocala with me, but I’ll be sending her down soon to Palm Meadows.”

Casse said Got Stormy, who fared well when facing male rivals on three occasions last year, will likely run next against the boys in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile on March 7 at Santa Anita.

All-sources handle on a 12-race Festival Preview program was $11,092,365. With longshots winning throughout the day, both pick five wagers had their pools swept by one winning 50-cent ticket: the early pick five (races 2-6) paid $139,972, and the late pick five (races 8-12) that included all four stakes was worth $435,029.