Triple Crown Trail: The Puma pounces in Tampa Bay Derby

Colt’s maiden score puts him in Derby picture

Breaking from the outside post under Javier Castellano, The Puma settled off the pace while longshot Redland Rebels set fractions of :23.07 and :46.48 for the opening half-mile of the 1 1/16-mile race. Castellano kept his mount in striking range before launching a bid on the far turn.

The Puma reached the top of the stretch with a narrow lead and battled down the lane with Further Ado and the heavy favorite Canaletto. He edged clear late to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:43.23 before a crowd of 9,070. Further Ado finished second for trainer Brad Cox and rider Irad Ortiz Jr., while Canaletto, trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Flavien Prat, was another head back in third.

The win was particularly meaningful for trainer Gustavo Delgado Sr. and his team, who took the bold step of entering a maiden in a major Derby prep.

“We’re a small barn,” assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. said, adding, “It’s not an easy thing when you enter a maiden in a stakes race. People think what are they doing? It’s a good thing when they respond on the track.”

Further Ado earned 25 Derby points for his runner-up finish, while Canaletto collected 15. Redland Rebels received 10 points, and Talkin added five.

The Puma, a son of Essential Quality out of the Declaration of War mare Eve of War, was bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn. He races for OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Strep Racing — the same ownership group that campaigned Mage.

Sent off at 7.40-1, The Puma returned $16.80 for a $2 win ticket and earned $210,000 from the purse, boosting his bankroll to $244,280. With his breakthrough stakes victory, the colt now appears firmly on track for a run at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

SAN FELIPE STAKES

At Santa Anita Park, So Happy pressed the Bob Baffert-trained 4-5 favorite Brant into defeat in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes — but all that accomplished was setting it up for the other pricey Baffert runner. Taking advantage of a contested early pace, Potente, a $2.4 million purchase as a yearling ridden yesterday by Juan Hernandez, rallied late to edge 67-1 bomb Robusta to win by a head and earn 50 Kentucky Derby points. Potente, by Into Mischief, is now 2-for-2 in his career.

KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS TOP 10

RANK	HORSE	OWNER	TRAINER	POINTS
1	Paladin	Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine LLC	Chad Brown	60
2	The Puma	OGMA Investments LLC, JR Ranch and High Step Racing LLC	Gustavo Delgado	56
3	Silent Tactic	John C. Oxley	Mark E. Casse	50
4	Class President	WinStar Farm LLC, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc.	Todd A. Pletcher	50
5	Commandment	Wathnan Racing	Brad Cox	50
6	Iron Honor	St. Elias Stable, Lawrence, William H. and Glassman Racing	Chad Brown	50
7	Potente	Speedway Stables LLC	Bob Baffert	50
8	Chip Honcho	Leland Ackerley Racing LLC	Steven M. Asmussen	39
9	Golden Tempo	Phipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)	Cherie DeVaux	35
10	Further Ado	Spendthrift Farm LLC	Brad Cox	35

KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS RACES REPLAYS

(Click on each line to see the replay)

• Smarty Jones S. – Strategic Risk
• Jerome S. – My World
• Lecomte S. – Golden Tempo
• Southwest S. – Silent Tactic
• Holy Bull S. – Nearly
• Robert B. Lewis S. – Plutarch
• Withers S. – Talk to Me Jimmy
• Sam F. Davis S. – Renegade
• UAE 2000 Guineas – Six Speed
• Risen Star S. – Paladin
• John Battaglia Memorial S. – Great White
• Sunland Derby – Pavlovian
• Rebel S. – Class President
• Fountain of Youth S. – Commandment
• Gotham S. – Iron Honor
• San Felipe S. – Potente
• Tampa Bay Derby – The Puma

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