Owen Almighty led from the start, cruised along the backstretch, and pulled away from Chancer McPatrick in the stretch for a 3 ½-length victory in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs.
Sent off as the third betting choice at 5-2, the bay colt trained by Brian Lynch was in control all the way around the oval, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., Owen Almighty ($7.80 on a $2 win bet) moved up to second on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard after earning 50 qualifying points to improve to 65 points overall.
Chancer McPatrick, a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2024 who finished sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in November, was making his first start in over four months. The colt trained by Chad Brown picked up 25 Derby points and totals 35 points for eighth place.
“He always shows up, he always fights, he’s a real good horse,’’ Ortiz said. “He was there when I asked him. He was focused and serious.”
Owen Almighty finished first in the Pasco Stakes under Ortiz but was disqualified to fifth for interference. He ran second to John Hancock in the Sam F. Davis (G3) on Feb. 8, and now is all but guaranteed a spot in the 20-horse 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 3.
“I think he can be a serious horse,’’ trainer Brian Lynch said, but indicated his choice would be the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Derby Day. Of course, the owners will likely have the final say, and who doesn’t want to win a Derby if the opportunity is there?
Hill Road was third (15 Derby points), 9-5 favorite Patch Adams was fourth (10 Derby points), Brodeur was fifth (five Derby points), followed by Naughty Rascal and Filoso.
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