Cox barn looking to stay hot with Further Ado in Tampa Bay Derby

Mar 04, 2026 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Further Ado wins at Keeneland. (Photo by Coady Media)

The Brad Cox barn is picking up steam on the Road to the Kentucky Derby trail. After Commandment's score in last week's Fountain of Youth (G2), the barn will attempt to take down another prep Saturday when Further Ado makes his season debut in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3).

The 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby anchors the signature program of the racing season at Tampa Bay Downs. Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points of 50-25-15-10-5 will be distributed to the respective top five finishers.

Further Ado first turned heads last October at Keeneland, when, making his third start and first around two turns, the son of Gun Runner bolted up to win a maiden by 20 lengths. He followed up with an odds-on triumph in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Several of his Tampa Bay Derby competitors must improve off their recent stakes attempts. Roger That Dana finished second to the aforementioned Commandment in the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man S., though was 6 3/4 lengths of that rival at the wire.

The Puma was well backed in his stakes debut, last month's Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa, but was relegated to third, six lengths behind Renegade. Talkin, a distant second in the Champagne (G1) last fall, made an early exit in the Remsen (G2) and wound up ninth of 11.

A couple of newcomers to this level might put up more of a fight against Further Ado. Powershift was a close second to Emerging Market in a highly rated maiden event at Tampa on Feb. 7 for Todd Pletcher, who has won the Tampa Bay Derby a record six times. Canaletto, meanwhile, was an eight-length debut winner at Gulfstream in late January for Chad Brown.

The field is rounded out by Redlands Rebel, a neck second in the Kitten's Joy S. over the Gulfstream turf last time, Thunder Buck, and Hulkamania.

Post time for the Tampa Bay Derby is 5:35 p.m. ET. It can be watched and wagered on at TwinSpires.com.