Study Guide: 2025 Tampa Bay Derby

Mar 06, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Patch Adams wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

A small but talented seven-horse field has assembled for Saturday’s $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs.

The 1 1/16-mile race awards Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis. Two Kentucky Derby (G1) winners in the last 20 years (Street Sense and Super Saver) have used the Tampa Bay Derby as a springboard to glory on the first Saturday in May.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse look at the 2025 Tampa Bay Derby field:

Owen Almighty

Owen Almighty winning the Ellis Park Juvenile S. at Ellis Park (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 5
Wins: 2
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing
Breeder: Mark Stanley
Trainer: Brian Lynch
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $274,310

Sire: Speightstown
Dam: Tempers Rising
Color: Bay

Owen Almighty has finished second twice in Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifiers, including when beaten half a length in the 1 1/16-mile Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs last month. He’s a logical contender while sticking to the same track and distance for the Tampa Bay Derby.

Chancer McPatrick

Chancer McPatrick wins the Champagne S. (Photo by Coglianes Photography)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Flanagan Racing
Breeder: Rigney Racing
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $535,000

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Bernadreamy
Color: Bay

Chancer McPatrick is the most accomplished horse in the Tampa Bay Derby field. He launched strong rallies to win the Hopeful (G1) and Champagne (G1) last year, but then faltered in his first two-turn race, finishing sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). He hasn’t run since November and is sticking to two turns for the Tampa Bay Derby, so Chancer McPatrick has obstacles to overcome in his 2025 debut.

#8 Chancer McPatrick surges late to take the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga at odds of 4/1!

Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Chad Brown
Owner: Flanagan Racing pic.twitter.com/Q3sgO57Q2U

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) September 2, 2024

Hill Road

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Amo Racing USA
Breeder: Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione

Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $191,606

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Exotic Notion
Color: Bay

Formerly based in Ireland, Hill Road made his U.S. debut in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and rallied from last place to finish third. The 101 Brisnet Speed rating he earned is one of the highest numbers in the Tampa Bay Derby field, but Hill Road has posted only five timed workouts since the Breeders’ Cup, and it’s possible he’ll be short of peak fitness for his first run of the year.

Brodeur

Brodeur wins at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: D. J. Stable
Breeder: Betz/B&K Canetti/J.Betz/CoCoEquine/D.J. Stables
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (89) when winning an Oaklawn Park maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $145,278

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Tea Time
Color: Bay

Brodeur enters off back-to-back victories. Last time out, he wired a $200,000 allowance optional claimer racing 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. But his career-best 89 Brisnet Speed rating looks a little light against Saturday’s field.

Filoso

Filoso training at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Gold Square
Breeder: Hunter Valley Farm and Oisin Murphy
Trainer: Chad Summers
Jockey: Dylan Davis

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a Saratoga maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $120,875

Sire: City of Light
Dam: Kenda
Color: Dark bay/brown

Filoso has started twice on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, finishing third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and sixth in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). He’ll likely need to improve upon his career-best 87 Brisnet Speed rating to beat the Tampa Bay Derby field. Perhaps wearing blinkers for the first time will sharpen Filoso’s speed and help him step forward.

Naughty Rascal

Naighty Rascal wins the Pascal Pasco Stakes. (Photo by SV Photo)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 4
Place: 1
Show: 1

Owner: Mr Pug and J.P.G. 2
Breeder: Edward Seltzer, Beverly Anderson, Helen Barbazon, and Joseph Barbazon
Trainer: Gerald Bennett
Jockey: Samy Camacho

Top Speed Rating: (96) when finishing second in the Inaugural S. at Tampa Bay Downs.
Total Earnings: $224,630

Sire: Rogueish
Dam: Baby Doll
Color: Bay

Naughty Rascal has won three stakes sprinting on dirt and running long on turf. But he’s 0-for-2 in dirt routes like the Tampa Bay Derby, most recently finishing sixth in the Sam F. Davis. It’s possible distances shorter than 1 1/16 miles are preferable for Naughty Rascal.

Patch Adams

Patch Adams wins at Churchill Downs. (Photo by Coady Media)

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: WinStar Farm and CHC
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux

Top Speed Rating: (102) when winning a Churchill Downs maiden special weight.
Total Earnings: $132,125

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Well Humored
Color: Bay

Patch Adams didn’t get the best trip when finishing fourth in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn, his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut. He got off to a subpar start, dropped far off the pace, made a strong mid-race move, and then flattened out to finish fourth. Two starts back, he obliterated a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs with a 102 Brisnet Speed rating, and a rebound to that level of form would make Patch Adams a serious win threat in the Tampa Bay Derby.