Grade I winner Brody’s Cause will make his return to the races Saturday in the $350,000 Grade II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. Listed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, with jockey Corey Lanerie aboard, he will face nine other rivals in this key prep for the Kentucky Derby.
The son of Giant’s Causeway has been out of action since finishing a fast-closing third to Nyquist in the Grade I Sentient Jet Breeders Cup Juvenile at Keeneland last fall. Two starts back, he won the Grade I Breeders’ Futurity, earning the highest Beyer figure of his career with an 88 and proving that he can power home like a locomotive when he gets things his way. Brody’s Cause has been training well for his debut and looks to replicate this rally on Saturday for trainer Dale Romans.
Dale Romans has been down this road before with such horses as Paddy O’Prado , Shackleford, and Dullahan, all top-four Kentucky Derby finishers. He is confident that Brody’s Cause is further along at this point in time than in any of his previous tries. Only time will tell, but rest assured Romans will have him ready to run on Saturday.
The race will not be easy this weekend as there are plenty of quality entrants, such as Destin, Economic model and Rafting. All are gunning for 50 Derby points to solidify their spot in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.
- Destin comes into this race fresh of a Grade III victory in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. He is training well and has Javier Castellano aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher.
- Economic Model is coming along nicely for Chad Brown. The son of Flatter just finished behind Awesome Banner in the Grade II Swale stakes and looks to improve in just the third start of his career.
- Rafting seemed to move a bit early in his most recent start against Destin. If he gets a cleaner trip Saturday he will be tough. Graham Motion will have him ready to fire.
On paper, there should be plenty of pace for Brody’s Cause to chase in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. Tale of S’avall, Riker, Morning Fire, Awesome Banner and Outwork all prefer to be on or close to the lead. Brody’s Cause will be sitting near the back of the pack waiting to unleash his powerful late run. Destin, Economic Model and Rafting will have the jump on him attacking the early leaders around the far turn, but I think his finishing kick will be able to mow them down late in this one.
If he can get through the Tampa Bay Derby unscathed, he will return to Keeneland to run in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes for his final Kentucky Derby prep. The son of Giant’s Causeway doesn’t need to improve much to compete with many of the three-year-olds this season. I look for a big run out of Brody’s cause Saturday in what might end up a special season for trainer Dale Romans.
