Triple Crown Trail: The Puma pounces in Tampa Bay Derby
Colt’s maiden score puts him in Derby picture
The Biz
March 8, 2026
The Puma surged onto the Kentucky Derby trail Saturday, stalking the pace before pouncing in the stretch to win the Grade 3, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.
The victory delivered 50 qualifying points on the Kentucky Derby trail, vaulting the colt from the maiden ranks into second on the leaderboard after previously earning six points when third in the Sam F. Davis Stakes last month.
This article contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, we may earn a commission at no extra charge to you.
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
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 won the Tampa Bay Derby. Photo by SV Photos.
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
RANKHORSEOWNERTRAINERPOINTS1PaladinMrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith & Summer Wind Equine LLCChad Brown602The PumaOGMA Investments LLC, JR Ranch and High Step Racing LLCGustavo Delgado563Silent TacticJohn C. OxleyMark E. Casse504Class PresidentWinStar Farm LLC, First Go Racing and CHC, Inc.Todd A. Pletcher505CommandmentWathnan RacingBrad Cox506Iron HonorSt. Elias Stable, Lawrence, William H. and Glassman RacingChad Brown507PotenteSpeedway Stables LLCBob Baffert508Chip HonchoLeland Ackerley Racing LLCSteven M. Asmussen399Golden TempoPhipps Stable (Daisy Phipps Pulito) & St. Elias Stable (Vincent Viola)Cherie DeVaux3510Further AdoSpendthrift Farm LLCBrad Cox35
Pick up reliable and rewarding tickets for major events!
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
LATEST NEWS