The Tampa Bay Derby is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in March at Tampa Bay Downs racetrack in Oldsmar, Florida. The event currently carries a purse of $400,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 21 March 1981 as the Budweiser Tampa Bay Derby Stakes with sponsorship for Budweiser making it the richest stakes race at the track. The event was won by the long shot Paristo, who was part of the field entry of horses at the odds of 35-1 in a time of 1:45. Such was the immediate impact the event had that in 1984 the event was classified as Grade III. Budweiser ceased their sponsorship in 1987.

The event was downgraded to Listed in 1991 and held this status until 2002 when it was upgraded back to Grade III.

In 2007, Street Sense became the first Tampa Bay Derby participant to win the Kentucky Derby. In 2010, Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby after finishing third in the Tampa Bay Derby.Blood Horse: 2011 Graded Stakes: 13 Fewer Than '10

In 2011 the event was upgraded to Grade II.

From 1995–2010, the Tampa Bay Derby and the Florida Oaks were run on the same race card. They were again presented on the same day in 2013, along with the Hillsborough Stakes, providing fans three graded stakes worth a combined $700,000.

The race has gained in popularity over the past few years and is now listed as high profile Championship series event on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Since 2016, the race has been called the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby due to sponsorship.

In 2023 the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association downgraded the event back to Grade III.

The 2024 edition of the race was run for purse money only with no wagering after problems from telecommunications supplier Lumen Technologies affected tote provider AmTote, leaving Tampa Bay Downs and several other tracks around the country unable to process wagers.

Records Speed record: 1:41.90 – Tacitus (2019)

Margins: 5 lengths – Thundering Storm (1996), Carpe Diem (2015)

Most wins by a jockey: 2 – Richard Migliore (2000, 2001) 2 – Pat Day (1998, 2004) 2 – Eibar Coa (2003, 2008) 2 – Daniel Centeno (2009, 2014) 2 – John Velazquez (2013, 2015) 2 – Jose L. Ortiz (2017, 2019)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 – Todd A. Pletcher (2004, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023)

Most wins by an owner: 2 – Eric Fein (2008, 2009) 2 – WinStar Farm (2015, 2018)

Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time Purse Grade Ref2026The PumaJavier CastellanoGustavo DelgadoOGMA Investments, JR Ranch & High Step Racing 1:43.23$350,000III 2025Owen Almighty Irad Ortiz Jr.Brian A. LynchFlying Dutchman Breeding and Racing LLC1:42.30$350,000III 2024Domestic Product Tyler GaffalioneChad C. BrownKlaravich Stables1:45.47$350,000III2023Tapit TriceLuis SaezTodd A. PletcherWhisper Hill Farm & Gainesway Farm1:43.37$360,000III2022Classic CausewayIrad Ortiz Jr.Brian A. LynchClarke M. Cooper Family Trust & Kentucky West Racing1:44.90$350,000II2021Helium Jose C. FerrerMark E. CasseD. J. Stable LLC 1:43.55$350,000 II2020King GuillermoSamy CamachoJuan Carlos AvilaVictoria's Ranch1:42.63$351,500 II2019 TacitusJose L. OrtizWilliam I. MottJuddmonte Farms1:41.90$355,000II2018QuipFlorent GerouxRodolphe BrissetWinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing 1:44.72$355,000II2017 TapwritJose L. OrtizTodd A. PletcherBridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred & Robert V. LaPenta 1:42.36$350,000II2016DestinJavier CastellanoTodd A. PletcherTwin Creeks Racing Stables1:42.82$350,000II2015Carpe DiemJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherWinStar Farm & Stonestreet Stables1:43.60$350,000II2014Ring WeekendDaniel CentenoH. Graham MotionSt. Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds1:43.71$350,000II2013 VerrazanoJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherLet's Go Stable, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier & Michael Tabor 1:43.96$350,000II2012ProspectiveLuis ContrerasMark E. CasseJohn C. Oxley1:43.35$350,000II2011Watch Me GoLuis GarciaKathleen O'ConnellGilbert G. Campbell1:44.25$350,000II2010OdysseusRajiv MaraghThomas AlbertraniPadua Stables1:44.31$300,000III2009Musket ManDaniel CentenoDerek S. RyanEric Fein & Vic Carlson1:43.67$300,000III2008 Big TruckEibar CoaBarclay TaggEric Fein1:44.25$300,000III2007 Street SenseCalvin H. BorelCarl A. Nafzger James B. Tafel 1:43.11$300,000III2006Deputy GlittersJose LezcanoThomas AlbertraniJoseph Lacombe Stable1:44.26$250,000III2005Sun KingEdgar S. PradoNicholas P. ZitoTracy Farmer1:43.98$250,000III2004 LimehousePat DayTodd A. PletcherDogwood Stable1:43.99$250,000III2003Region of MeritEibar CoaChristophe ClementCalumet Farm1:44.61$250,000III2002EqualityH. Graham MotionPin Oak Stable1:43.66$200,000III2001§ Burning RomaRichard MiglioreHeather A. GiglioHarold L. Queen1:44.30$200,000 Listed 2000WheelawayRichard MiglioreJohn C. KimmelCaesar P. Kimmel & Philip J. Solondz Kimmel 1:43.90$150,000 Listed 1999PineaffJose A. SantosKenneth G. McPeekRoy & Joyce Monroe1:45.20$150,000 Listed 1998Parade GroundPat DayNeil J. HowardWilliam S. Farish III & Stephen S. Hilbert1:45.40$150,000 Listed 1997ZedeJerry BaileyWilliam I. MottAllen E. Paulson1:44.80$150,000 Listed 1996Thundering StormJorge A. GuerraDon R. RiceDeborah J. Artz1:43.80$150,000 Listed 1995GadzookGary BoulangerJ. Bert SonnierDu-Zee Stables1:45.20$150,000 Listed 1994Prix de CroutonMickey WallsLorne E. BergLorne & Kathleen Berg 1:46.60$150,000 Listed 1993Marco BayRonald Dale Allen Jr.Sarah A. LundyJay Shaw1:44.40$150,000 Listed 1992Careful GestureRobert Neal LesterElbert R. DixonCecilia Dixon1:45.80$200,000 Listed 1991Speedy CureRicardo D. LopezHarvey CulpSusan B. Fisher1:46.20$150,000 Listed 1990ChampagneforashleyJacinto VasquezHoward M. TesherRobert Baker, Howard Kaskel & Leon Feinbloom1:44.60$150,000 III1989Storm PredictionsSteve GaffalioneLuis OlivaresThree G Stables1:43.80$150,000III1988CefisEddie MapleRyehill Farm & R. Kirkham Partnership1:44.40$150,000III1987Phantom JetK. Keith AllenPhilip A. GleavesAisco Stables1:43.80$150,000III1986My Prince CharmingCraig PerretNewcomb GreenDon Aronow Stable1:46.60$159,000III1985Regal RemarkJeffrey FellJames E. DaySam-Son Farm1:46.80$158,100III1984Bold SouthernerWayne CrewsPaul M. MaxwellRusticwoods Farm1:44.60$160,000III1983MorganmorganmorganWillie RodriguezArthur MonteiroMorgan Bishop1:47.20$100,000 1982ReinvestedRick D. LuhrStanley M. HoughHarbor View Farm1:45.20$66,900 1981‡ ParistoDavid C. AshcroftGeorge R. HandyBelmont Farm1:45.40$72,600

Notes:

§ Ran as an entry

‡ Ran as the field entry

See also Road to the Kentucky Derby List of American and Canadian Graded races

External sites Tampa Bay Downs Media Guide 2021

References