Untamed Domain could try dirt in Tampa Bay Derby

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Untamed Domain could make his dirt debut in the March 10 Tampa Bay Derby as he attempts to enter the Kentucky Derby picture following a decent third-place finish as the 6-5 favorite Saturday in the Dania Beach Stakes on the Gulfstream turf.

“Right now, Tampa is our choice,” said Terry Finley, president of the colt’s ownership group, West Point Thoroughbreds.

Making his first start since a runner-up finish in the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Untamed Domain was 2 3/4 lengths behind Speed Franco and Gidu in the Dania Beach, a one-mile turf race. All six career starts for Untamed Domain, trained by Graham Motion, have been on turf.

“It was a solid start to his year,” Finley said.

:: The Road to the Kentucky Derby Player's Package

Machismo turns heads

A handful of 3-year-old first-time starters with sharp morning works was expected to dominate the eighth race here Saturday, but a colt with three prior races blew them away. Machismo, ridden by Albin Jimenez for Loooch Racing and partner Ashley Quartarolo, earned an 85 Beyer in an 11 1/2-length score in the 6 1/2-furlong maiden race.

Loooch owner Ron Paolucci posted Sunday on Twitter that he and trainer Anthony Quartarolo will consider a longer race for the More Than Ready colt’s next start.

◗ A solitary allowance serves as the nominal feature of a 10-race Thursday card that starts at 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with older turf sprinters clashing for a $52,000 purse under a second-level condition in race 7. It’s part of a Rainbow 6 sequence (races 5-10) that had $222,967 in the rollover jackpot when a five-day week began here Wednesday.