Tampa Bay raises top 3-year-old stakes purses

Tampa Bay Downs has increased the purses of its top two 3-year-olds stakes for its 2006-07 meeting. The 26 stakes at the meet will have a gross value of $2.5 million, a 5 percent increase over last year?s schedule.

The Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby will have a purse of $300,000 in 2007, an increase of $50,000 from this year?s edition, in which Deputy Glitters upset Bluegrass Gat in the 1 1/16-mile race. The Sam F. Davis Stakes, the local prep for the Tampa Bay Derby, has had its purse raised $25,000 and will be worth $150,000 at the upcoming 94-day session, which begins on Dec. 9 and continues through May 6, 2007.

The Tampa Bay Derby will be run on the March 17 Festival Day card, which will also includes the $200,000 Florida Oaks, the Grade 3, $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes, and the $75,000 Turf Dash. Festival Day, the highlight of the Tampa Bay Downs season, is one of four multiple-stakes Saturdays that will be held during the meet.Tampa Bay Downs has increased the purses of its top two 3-year-olds stakes for its 2006-07 meeting. The 26 stakes at the meet will have a gross value of $2.5 million, a 5 percent increase over last year's schedule.

The Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby will have a purse of $300,000 in 2007, an increase of $50,000 from this year's edition, in which Deputy Glitters upset Bluegrass Gat in the 1 1/16-mile race. The Sam F. Davis Stakes, the local prep for the Tampa Bay Derby, has had its purse raised $25,000 and will be worth $150,000 at the upcoming 94-day session, which begins on Dec. 9 and continues through May 6, 2007.

The Tampa Bay Derby will be run on the March 17 Festival Day card, which will also includes the $200,000 Florida Oaks, the Grade 3, $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes, and the $75,000 Turf Dash. Festival Day, the highlight of the Tampa Bay Downs season, is one of four multiple-stakes Saturdays that will be held during the meet.