The road to Churchill Downs gained a powerful new contender on Saturday as The Puma surged down the stretch to win the 46th running of the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs, securing 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby.
Facing a field of nine promising 3-year-olds, The Puma delivered a patient and professional performance under Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, stalking the pace before unleashing a decisive move in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length.
The victory elevated the colt from the maiden ranks directly into serious Derby contention. With the 50 points earned Saturday, added to the six he collected for finishing third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 7, The Puma vaulted into second place on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
Breaking sharply from the far outside post, Castellano guided The Puma into a comfortable stalking position as the field headed up the backstretch.
Longshot Redland Rebels, dismissed at 38.80-1 and ridden by Junior Alvarado, set the early tempo with fractions of 23.07 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.48 for the half in the 1 1/16-mile test over a fast main track.
As the race approached the far turn, Castellano asked The Puma for more. The colt responded by steadily advancing on the outside, drawing closer to the leaders entering the stretch. By the time they reached the top of the lane, The Puma had his head in front.
What followed was a fierce three-horse duel. Spendthrift Farm’s Further Ado, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., battled on the inside, while the heavily favored Canaletto — piloted by Flavien Prat — fought hard between rivals.
The Puma ultimately proved strongest, edging clear in the final yards to stop the clock in 1:43.23 before an enthusiastic crowd of 9,070.
Further Ado finished second to earn 25 Kentucky Derby points, adding to the 10 he already held on the leaderboard. Canaletto, the 1.50-1 favorite trained by Chad Brown, finished another head back in third and collected 15 points.
Canaletto had entered the race with significant buzz after an eight-length maiden victory at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25. The $1 million yearling purchase for Coolmore, Peter Brant, and Brook T. Smith was attempting his first start against stakes company.
Redland Rebels held fourth to earn 10 points, while Talkin picked up five points for finishing fifth and bringing his total to 10.
The remainder of the field finished in the following order: Powershift, representing Repole Stable and trainer Todd Pletcher; Thunder Buck, making his first start for trainer Brendan Walsh; Hulkamania, owned in part by former MLB outfielder Jayson Werth’s Icon Racing Stables; and Roger That Dana.
The Puma’s victory carries added significance for his ownership group — OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Strep Racing.
OGMA Investments previously campaigned 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage, and Saturday’s triumph signals that the partnership could once again have a legitimate contender for the first Saturday in May.
The colt is bred in Kentucky by Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn and boasts a strong pedigree. He is by champion Essential Quality and out of the Declaration of War mare Eve of War.
Sent off at 7.40-1, The Puma returned $16.80 on a $2 win ticket and earned $210,000 from the $400,000 purse. The win boosted his career earnings to $244,280.
More importantly, it placed him squarely on the Triple Crown trail — and firmly in the conversation as the Road to the Kentucky Derby continues toward Churchill Downs.
