Spa City jumping right into deep end in Tampa Bay Derby

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Spa City, winner of a highly rated maiden race on Feb. 8 at Gulfstream Park, is heading to stakes competition next, with the Tampa Bay Derby on March 7 his target. He had his final work for that race Friday morning here at the Palm Meadows training center, when he went five furlongs in 1:00.85 under exercise rider Rob Massey.

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Kiaran McLaughlin, who trains Spa City, sent him out solo after the second renovation break. After backtracking to the wire, Spa City turned around, galloped until nearly the half-mile pole, broke off there, passed the finish in 48.40 seconds, then continued out sharply a furlong past the wire.

“He won a very good maiden race and now it’s time to step up to a key race and see how he fits,” McLauglin said. “He’s a big, strong horse, improving all the time. He’s got a good mind, does everything right.”

McLaughlin said the Tampa Bay Derby was preferred over the Fountain of Youth Stakes, run Feb. 29 at Gulfstream, because it afforded him four weeks between starts instead of three.

Spa City, by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, won the 1 1/8-mile maiden race on Feb. 8 by one length and earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure. The runner-up, Unrighteous, was nearly 15 lengths in front of the rest of the field.

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Daniel Centeno has the mount in the Tampa Bay Derby, McLaughlin said.

Swale Stakes winner Mischevious Alex, another colt based here, is headed to the Gotham Stakes on March 7 at Aqueduct, trainer John Servis said. Kendrick Carmouche will ride. Jose Ortiz had been scheduled to ride, but he is sidelined with a broken wrist.