Region Of Merit Stakes Claim For Calumet In Tampa Bay Derby
By: By: John Gaver III

(Mar. 17, 2003) - Legendary Calumet Farm has the record for the most Kentucky Derby winners for an owner, but the historic Lexington, Ky. Thoroughbred nursery hasn't won the Run for the Roses in 35 years and has only had a pair of longshot starters in the race since Alydar's gallant 1978 Triple Crown campaign. That may change in 2003.

The chestnut colt Region Of Merit, under a rousing ride from jockey Eibar Coa, carried the farm's famed devil's red and blue colors to a three-quarter length victory over Aristocat in the 23rd running of the Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) on Mar. 16 at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla., stamping himself as a contender for the 129th renewal of the Kentucky Derby, to be contested on May 3 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

34-1 Hear No Evil, who made all the pace coming off a two-month layoff, ran a brave race to be third, beaten a short length for all the money, in the field of eight 3-year-old colts. White Buck, Strength Within, Cajun Beat, Fast Eddie D. and Popular Groom rounded out the official order of finish. Freedom Lane was a late scratch.

Region Of Merit broke well and stalked pacesetting Hear No Evil from the four path, as that rival sprinted clear to a two length lead after a quarter run in :23 1/5. Approaching the final turn, the son of Touch Gold collared Hear No Evil and those two bounded down the stretch deadlocked before Coa was able to get Region Of Merit to switch leads before the eighth pole and the colt edged clear of Hear No Evil, finishing with good interest in the final sixteenth of a mile to hold off his fast-closing nemesis Aristocat in the shadow of the wire.

"We think this horse is still learning and will improve," said Coa. "I don't think he ran as well as he can today and he still won."

Region Of Merit covered a mile and a sixteenth over a surface rated "fast" in 1:44 3/5 and returned $5.20, $3 and $2.40 as the 8-5 favorite.

The Kentucky-bred colt not only won his stakes debut with his Tampa Bay Derby score, but also notched his fourth consecutive victory to improve his lifetime record to four wins from five starts lifetime for trainer Christophe Clement. The $150,000 winner's share of the purse bolstered his career lifetime earnings to $221,550.

« Back To Derby News