Tampa Bay Downs
State of Honor works briskly for Tampa Bay Derby
Tom Keyser State of Honor, third at the Sam F. Davis, has been training extremely well for next week's Tampa Bay Derby.
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – State of Honor turned in an eye-catching drill under Julien Leparoux on Friday at the Palm Meadows training center in preparation for the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby next Saturday. He was timed in 47.75 seconds for a half-mile and then galloped out powerfully.
“He trains unbelievable,” trainer Mark Casse said. “He’s training really well.
“That’s the life of a trainer. First set is crappy,” Casse said, referring to Classic Empire, whose scheduled workout was canceled when the 3-year-old colt displayed discomfort in his back. “Second set, you get a work like that.”
State of Honor most recently was third in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa, which was won by McCraken.
