Steve Davidowitz’s Tampa Bay Derby analysis

Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs, March 8

(50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth.)

Ring Weekend, a gelded son of Tapit trained by Graham Motion, effectively used his natural speed and inside post to take the lead and improve his position for a straightforward three-length score over Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Vinceremos.

Under locally based jockey Daniel Centeno, Ring Weekend set all the splits – 23.62 seconds, 46.88, 1:11.41, and 1:37.04 – en route to his 1:43.71 final clocking and a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure. Ring Weekend went off at 14-1, having barely won a maiden route at Gulfstream in his fifth career start Feb. 8.

Vinceremos rallied from fourth for second while passing his Todd Pletcher-trained stablemate, Surfing U S A, in midstretch. The latter pressed Ring Weekend for control of the pace around the clubhouse turn into the backstretch but could not prevent the winner from opening up a commanding lead thereafter. To his credit, Surfing U S A held third, 3 3/4 lengths behind the winner.

Conquest Titan, who rallied from last for a decent second to Cairo Prince in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25, was slow to gain his best stride and finished fourth as the lukewarm 2.60-1 favorite. The relatively short 1 1/16-mile distance did not seem in his favor. While Conquest Titan had won a stakes-quality allowance race at Churchill Downs last fall, his future value may be as a longshot trifecta or superfecta option should he make it into the Kentucky Derby.

Matador, fourth in the Sam F. Davis over this track and distance Feb. 1, made up some ground from the back of the pack to finish a non-threatening fifth, right behind Conquest Titan. Both the fourth- and fifth-place finishers are trained by Mark Casse.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

Cousin Stephen offered a modest bid on the final turn but could not sustain his momentum to finish six lengths behind the winner in sixth, three lengths out of second.

East Hall, a late-running fourth against the intense speed bias in play for the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on Feb. 22, failed to gain while finishing eighth after a wide trip. Tuscan Getaway finished last of 10 after showing some pace behind the top two for about four furlongs.

The bottom line: The improving winner earned 50 Derby qualifying points and is another Derby prospect who prefers to race on or near the pace. Others with that running style include Fountain of Youth winner Wildcat Red; San Felipe Stakes winner California Chrome; the New York-based Samraat, Uncle Sigh, and In Trouble, who raced close together throughout the Gotham Stakes on March 1; and the undefeated Bayern.

Given that the Kentucky Derby is two months away, Ring Weekend and others from Saturday’s race with Kentucky Derby aspirations likely will need another race, perhaps the Blue Grass Stakes on the Keeneland Polytrack on April 12.