First Look: 6 key stakes include preps for Kentucky Derby preps
Photo:
Gonzalo Anteliz Jr. / Eclipse Sportswire
Call it a prep for a prep. It may not have graded badging, but the Pasco Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs could serve as a building block for Kentucky Derby 2025
That was just what West Saratoga did last year when he finished second in Florida on the way to his 12th-place result in May at Churchill Downs. Then there was Book’em Danno, whose victory in the 2024 Pasco was a springboard to a second in the Saudi Derby (G3) and wins in the Woody Stephens (G1) and Jersey Shore.
Stakes winner Owen Almighty is the likely favorite for the 2025 Pasco. It is the traditional prep for the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), a virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifier for Kentucky and a proving ground for Street Sense and Super Saver to have successful runs for the roses.
One graded race, the Las Ciénegas (G3) on Sunday at Santa Anita, is among six notable stakes this week.
Saturday
Pasco, Tampa Bay Downs, 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds
Owen Almighty began his career with two wins, including a 4 3/4-length August break in the Ellis Park Juvenile to earn an 84 Beyer Speed ??Figure, according to Daily Racing Form . The Speightstown colt owned by the Boersma family and trained by Brian Lynch was making up ground late when he finished second last out Sept. 14 in the Iroquois (G3). That one-turn mile at Churchill Downs was the first qualifying race for the 2025 Kentucky Derby, so Owen Almighty has three points on his account.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Owen Almighty Speightstown |
6.40 | Likely | |||
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Last race
Next race
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Rookie Card Goodbye Charlie |
5.34 | Likely | |||
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Last race
Next race
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Cocked Khozan |
0.00 |
1st, TAM MSW (07/12/2024-R2)
2025 Pasco |
Likely | ||
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Last race
Next race
|
1st, TAM MSW (07/12/2024-R2)
2025 Pasco |
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Juan Colorado Mastery |
0.00 | Likely | |||
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Last race
Next race
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Latch The Hatch Curlin’s Honor |
0.00 | Likely | |||
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Last race
Next race
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Naughty Rascal Rogueish |
0.00 |
2nd, Inaugural 2025 Pasco |
Likely | ||
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Last race
Next race
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2nd, Inaugural 2025 Pasco |
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Normandy Coast Omaha Beach |
0.00 | Likely | |||
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Last race
Next race
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Rolando Vekoma |
0.00 | Likely | |||
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Last race
Next race
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Very Bold Union Rags |
0.00 |
6th, TP AOC (06/12/2024-R7)
2025 Pasco |
Likely | ||
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Last race
Next race
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6th, TP Alw OC (06/12/2024-R7)
2025 Pasco |
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Gasparilla, Tampa Bay Downs, 7 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies
The Boersmas and Lynch also have the possible favorite in this local trial for next month’s Suncoast Stakes. Mrs Worldwide already has six starts to her name, winning three of them. She finished first against Florida-breds in the 6 1/2-furlong Juvenile Fillies Sprint in November at Gulfstream Park. In her most recent start last month, the $100,000 Global Campaign filled closed into a half-length triumph in the six-furlong Sandpiper at Tampa Bay Downs.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
5.45 | Likely | ||||
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Last race
Next race
|
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|
|
Another Cleeshay Volatile |
0.00 |
6th, Sandpiper 2025 Gasparilla |
Likely | ||
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Last race
Next race
|
6th, Sandpiper 2025 Gasparilla |
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|
|
Dancing Magic Good Magic |
0.00 |
3rd, Sandpiper 2025 Gasparilla |
Likely | ||
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Last race
Next race
|
3rd, Sandpiper 2025 Gasparilla |
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Trevi Fountain Gunnevera |
0.00 | Likely | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
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|
Mrs Worldwide Global Campaign |
0.00 |
1st, Sandpiper |
Probable | ||
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Last race Next race |
1st, Sandpiper |
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Vuela Paloma Valiant Minister |
0.00 |
1st, TAM MSW (12/07/2024-R4) |
Probable | ||
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Last race Next race |
1st, TAM MSW (12/07/2024-R4) |
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|
|
Lynn’s Milky Way Volatile |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last race Next race |
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California Cup Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, California-bred or sired 3-year-olds
Speedy Wilson and Shea Brennan, both trained by Phil D’Amato,
finished first and third in the Golden State Juvenile traveling seven furlongs Nov.
1 at Del Mar. That was on the Friday undercard supporting the Breeders’ Cup. Speedy
Wilson has been off since. Shea Brennan squeezed in his two-turn debut Dec. 15,
leading most of the way en route to a nose victory in the one-mile King
Glorious at Los Alamitos. Allowance winner I’m a Bad Boy finished second that
day and is expected back in this feature for Cal-breds.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
I’m A Bad Boy Stay Thirsty |
4.45 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
Drop Um Far From Over |
0.00 |
2nd, Bay Meadows Juvenile |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, Bay Meadows Juvenile |
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Got’m Cot’m Bolt d’Oro |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Mala Union Rags |
0.00 |
1st, Bay Meadows Juvenile |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, Bay Meadows Juvenile |
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Shea Brennan Tough Sunday |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last race Next race |
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Speedy Wilson Tough Sunday |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Whiskyginandbrandy Stay Thirsty |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
R Heisman Far From Over |
4.45 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
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Accidental Genius I’ll Have Another |
0.00 |
3rd, Bay Meadows Juvenile |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
3rd, Bay Meadows Juvenile |
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|
|
Miles Finch Vronsky |
0.00 |
3rd, DMR MSW (11/29/2024-R5) |
Possible | ||
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Last race Next race |
3rd, DMR MSW (11/29/2024-R5) |
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|
|
Style Cat Curlin To Mischief |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last race Next race |
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Uncle Evco Smiling Tiger |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last race Next race |
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California Cup Oaks, Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies
Tequilaandtherapy returns to the turf, where she broke her
maiden during the Del Mar summer. Three months ago trainer Doug O’Neill sent
the Mrazek filly into the Surfer Girl (G3), where she finished a distant fourth
covering the same course and distance as the Cal Cup Oaks. Owned by Paul
Reddam, Tequilaandtherapy was an 11-1 winner in the seven-furlong Golden State
Juvenile Fillies in November on Del Mar’s main track and third last month in
the one-mile Soviet Problem against state-bred rivals at Los Alamitos.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tequilaandtherapy Mrazek |
4.79 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Big Soiree Mr Big |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Chilly Philly Frosted |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last race Next race |
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Grateful My Love Danzing Candy |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Hey Jessie Grazen |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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In The Air Tonight Stay Thirsty |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last race Next race |
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Musical Number Uptown Rythem |
0.00 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Pavel Is Appealing Pavel |
0.00 |
1st, DMR AOC (12/01/2024-R6) |
Probable | ||
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Last race Next race |
1st, DMR AOC (12/01/2024-R6) |
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Sunset Grazen Grazen |
0.00 | Probable | |||
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Last race Next race |
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Going Deep Bodexpress |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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How About Pavel Pavel |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Less Is More Nyquist |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Miso Phansy Karakontie |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Pennypatter Sir Prancealot |
0.00 |
1st, PLN STR (12/06/2024-R5) |
Possible | ||
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Last race Next race |
1st, PLN STR (12/06/2024-R5) |
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|
|
Take Another Card I’ll Have Another |
0.00 | Possible | |||
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Last race Next race |
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We The Hobby Om |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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Unusual Heat Turf Classic, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles,
turf, California-bred or sired 4-year-olds and up
Keep Movin’ On, a 4-year-old trained by Tim Yakteen, had a
three-race winning streak snapped last out when he finished third in a
Pleasanton allowance test. On the Whim, a 5-year-old gelding from Dean Pederson’s
barn, was a beaten favorite Nov. 30 at Del Mar coming off a sprint victory
against state-breds in the California Flag Handicap on Oct. 13 at Santa Anita. Aligato,
who just turned 8, was a close third in this race last year and was an
allowance winner last spring before going on an eight-month break.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
None Above The Law Karakontie |
5.80 | Probable | |||
|
Last race Next race |
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|
|
Aligato Kitten’s Joy |
4.79 |
6th, SA AOC (04/28/2024-R5) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
6th, SA AOC (04/28/2024-R5) |
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|
|
Barely Funtional Mrazek |
0.00 |
1st, LRC AOC (12/15/2024-R4) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, LRC AOC (12/15/2024-R4) |
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|
Coalinga Road Quality Road |
0.00 |
2nd, Bull Dog |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, Bull Dog |
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|
|
Dont Fight the Fed Nyquist |
0.00 |
1st, SA AOC (12/27/2024-R9) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, SA AOC (12/27/2024-R9) |
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|
|
Jimmy Blue Jeans James Street |
0.00 |
2nd, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R3) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R3) |
|||||
|
|
Keep Movin’ On Sir Prancealot |
0.00 |
3rd, PLN AOC (11/09/2024-R2) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
3rd, PLN AOC (11/09/2024-R2) |
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|
|
Old Pal Grazen |
0.00 |
3rd, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R7) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
3rd, DMR AOC (11/17/2024-R7) |
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|
|
On The Whim Acclamation |
0.00 |
8th, DMR AOC (11/30/2024-R3) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
8th, DMR AOC (11/30/2024-R3) |
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|
|
Takes Three Nyquist |
0.00 |
1st, LRC AOC (12/07/2024-R7) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
1st, LRC AOC (12/07/2024-R7) |
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|
|
We Can Sir Prancealot |
0.00 |
2nd, LRC AOC (12/07/2024-R7) |
Probable | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, LRC AOC (12/07/2024-R7) |
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|
|
Andtheomofthebrave Om |
0.00 |
2nd, SA AOC (12/27/2024-R9) |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
2nd, SA AOC (12/27/2024-R9) |
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|
|
Cowboy Mike Smiling Tiger |
0.00 |
4th, E.B. Johnston |
Possible | ||
|
Last race Next race |
4th, E.B. Johnston |
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|
|
Fast Buck Gallant Son |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
|
|
Investalot Sir Prancealot |
0.00 |
4th, SA AOC (12/27/2024-R9)
2025 Unusual Heat Turf Classic |
Possible | ||
|
Last race
Next race
|
4th, SA AOC (12/27/2024-R9)
2025 Unusual Heat Turf Classic |
|||||
|
|
Silent Heat Unusual Heatwave |
0.00 |
8th, SA STR (03/15/2024-R8)
2025 Unusual Heat Turf Classic |
Possible | ||
|
Last race
Next race
|
8th, SA STR (03/15/2024-R8)
2025 Unusual Heat Turf Classic |
|||||
|
|
Stamp My Passport Vancouver |
0.00 |
5th, SA AOC (12/28/2024-R10)
2025 Unusual Heat Turf Classic |
Possible | ||
|
Last race
Next race
|
5th, SA AOC (12/28/2024-R10)
2025 Unusual Heat Turf Classic |
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Sunday
Las Ciénegas (G3), Santa Anita, about 6 1/2 furlongs, hillside turf, fillies and mares, 4 -year-olds and up
Laulne was a Group 3 winner in France who finished 10th in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Sol Kumin bought a majority of her that weekend and sent her to D’Amato. After a five-month break, she won the Angels Flight and then finished 1 1/2 lengths behind in third as the 5-2 favorite in the Señorita (G3). Both those stakes were over the same course and distance as the Las Ciénegas, where the 4-year-old Starspangledbanner filly is expected to come back from eight months on the bench.
| Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer | Last start / Next start | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Nadette Outstrip |
6.36 | Likely | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
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|
|
6.06 | Graham Motion | Likely | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
||||||
|
|
Hamwood Flier Kodiac |
5.87 | Likely | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
||||||
|
|
Miss Lizzy Classic Empire |
4.79 |
4th, Swingtime 2025 Las Ciénegas G3 |
Likely | ||
|
Last race
Next race
|
4th, Swingtime 2025 Las Ciénegas G3 |
|||||
|
|
Just Nails Twirling Candy |
0.00 | Likely | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
||||||
|
|
Laulne Starspangled Banner |
0.00 | Likely | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
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|
|
Anywho Bolt d’Oro |
5.87 | Possible | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
||||||
|
|
Pushiness Kantharos |
5.79 | Possible | |||
|
Last race
Next race
|
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|
|
Ma Rae’s Girl Mendelssohn |
4.12 |
3rd, LRC AOC (12/13/2024-R8)
2025 Las Ciénegas G3 |
Possible | ||
|
Last race
Next race
|
3rd, LRC AOC (12/13/2024-R8)
2025 Las Ciénegas G3 |
|||||
|
|
Big Summer Mr Big |
0.00 |
1st, LRC AOC (12/13/2024-R8)
2025 Las Ciénegas G3 |
Possible | ||
|
Last race
Next race
|
1st, LRC AOC (12/13/2024-R8)
2025 Las Ciénegas G3 |
|||||
|
|
Needlepoint Blue Point |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Next Race
|
||||||
|
|
Vitalera Into Mischief |
0.00 | Possible | |||
|
Last Race
Next Race
|
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