Big Truck Wins Tampa Bay Derby; War Pass Last & Suffers First Loss
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion and one of the leading 2008 Kentucky Derby contenders, War Pass, suffered his first defeat as he finished a disappointing last behind Big Truck in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, March 15.
Trained by Barclay Tagg, Big Truck, ridden by Eibar Coa, covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.25 and paid $16.40, $5.80 and $25.20. Atoned with jockey John Velazquez aboard returned $6.60 and $27.80. Longshot Dynamic Wayne finished third and paid $76.40 to show.
War Pass owner Robert LaPenta said his colt had a fever earlier this week. War Pass was scheduled for a final 2008 Kentucky Derby prep, the Wood Memorial on April 5 in New York’s Aqueduct, but Robert LaPenta said the plan would be re-evaluated.
Big Truck, purchased for $90,000 by Eric Fein, earned $180,000 in the Tampa Bay Derby, boosting his career total to $336,880.
Horse trainer Barclay Tagg also trained Funny Cide, one of the winners of the Kentucky Derby (2003) and Preakness Stakes. Aside from Big Truck, he has 3 other Kentucky Derby hopefuls: Elysium Fields, set to run in the Florida Derby on March 29 at Gulfstream Park, and Tale of Ekati, who runs next in the Wood Memorial.
Make Me Zach came in fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby followd by Cigar Man, Gentleman James and the 1-20 horse wagering favorite War Pass finished the lineup.
"Big Truck Wins Tampa Bay Derby; War Pass Last & Suffers First Loss" was posted on 15 March 2008 9:56 PM under Horse Racing News, Horses, Stakes Races
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