The Puma surged from off the pace as a 7.40-1 longshot to win the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby by three-quarters of a length at Tampa Bay Downs, earning 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and climbing to second on the leaderboard with 56 total after a prior third in the Sam Davis Stakes. Trained by Gustavo Delgado Sr., the colt shares ownership connections with 2023 Derby winner Mage.
The 46th running of the $400,000 Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby, held Saturday over 1 1/16 miles on a fast track at Tampa Bay Downs in Tampa, Florida, drew 9,070 spectators. A key Kentucky Derby prep, the race offered 50 points to the winner. Jockey Javier Castellano guided The Puma, a three-year-old son of Essential Quality out of the unraced Eve of War, from post 8. The colt settled off early fractions of 23.07 and 46.48 seconds set by Redland Rebels before advancing on the far turn, seizing the lead at the top of the stretch, and holding off Further Ado (25 points) by 3/4 length in 1:43.23. Canaletto earned 15 points in third, followed by Redland Rebels (10), Talkin (5), Powershift, Thunder Buck, Hulkamania, and Roger That Dana.
This marked The Puma's third career start, elevating him from maiden to graded stakes winner with earnings now at $244,280 after the $210,000 winner's share ($16.80 to win). Bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn, he fetched $150,000 at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale after missing his $95,000 reserve at Keeneland's September yearling auction. Ownership group OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing—sharing ties to 2023 Derby victor Mage (also ridden by Castellano)—had targeted another colt but pivoted to The Puma for his potential.
Assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. celebrated from the winner's circle: "We're a small barn... It's more gratifying when you only get one or two horses at the sale and they end up like this." Castellano added, "I really like my horse and what he did." Racing manager Ramiro Restrepo emphasized caution: "It's always been on a race-by-race basis... Whether Gustavo chooses to pick one of the big points races that are in April or train straight up to the race is going to be left to the horse."
The Delgados plan a light week of rest at Gulfstream Park before deciding next steps. For third-place Canaletto ($1 million Into Mischief colt owned by Coolmore, Peter Brant, and Brook T. Smith, trained by Chad Brown), Coolmore's Adrian Wallace called it encouraging in his second start, eyeing the April 11 Lexington Stakes.
