During tote crash, Domestic Product wins Tampa Bay Derby

If you were at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, it’s 100-1 you will ever forget it.

In the more routine matter of the day, Sam F. Davis (G3) winner No More Time appeared to be headed to victory before Holy Bull (G2) runner-up Domestic Product surged with every fiber of his Thoroughbred heart under jockey Tyler Gaffalione to snatch the triumph away in the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby, a Kentucky Derby 2024 points prep.

Click here for Tampa Bay Downs entries and results.

The winning time was 1:45.47 for the 1 1/16-mile race on the fast main track, the slowest Tampa Bay Derby since Prix de Crouton won in 1994 with a time of 1:46.60. The early fractions were a dawdling 25.25, 51.14, 1:16.21 and 1:39.36.

But that will not be the most lasting memory.

At 4:52 p.m. EST, about a minute after 3-year-old filly Waskesiu won the $200,000 Florida Oaks (G3) on the turf, the toteboard displaying the amount wagered on that race, the time of day and the top four finishers froze in place. And it stayed that way for almost an hour.

In the interim, the 10 entrants for the Tampa Bay Derby made their way to the paddock for saddling and then endured a much longer-than-usual wait before the decision was made to proceed with the race, even though no more wagers could be taken. Track officials also canceled the 12th and final race.

“Due to the ongoing delay, the status of all wagers involving the 10th (Florida Oaks), 11th (Tampa Bay Derby) and 12th races have yet to be resolved,” track vice president Margo Flynn said shortly after 7 p.m. EST. “The issues will be addressed (Sunday) with our first priority to pay out on all winning wagers made prior to the tote shutdown and for refunds to be made where appropriate.”

If you’re a horse racing fan, what happened after the delay might have made up for the bizarreness. Didn’t it?

The tote delay that also was said to have affected Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park and Santa Anita produced bedlam, at least of a variety perhaps never seen at Tampa Bay Downs, which winning trainer Chad Brown referred to earlier Saturday as “a charming old track.”

The connections of No More Time, at least 25 strong, flooded the winner’s circle, and Brown seemed to have no idea Domestic Product had pulled it out.

Believe it.

Whether the margin was a long nose or a short head didn’t seem to matter. There still was no Equibase chart three hours after the race.

The Klaravich Stables-owned son of Practical Joke who is 2-for-5 earned 50 qualifying points toward Kentucky Derby 2024, all but clinching a place in the gate May 4.

No More Time settled for 25 points, raising his total to 45, making him a strong candidate to run for the roses, too.

Grand Mo the First was third, and Brown’s colt Good Money, the pace-setter, lasted for fourth.

Gaffalione’s father Steve Gaffalione won the 1989 Tampa Bay Derby on Storm Predictions. Domestic Product was Tyler’s first-ever mount in the race.

As for Brown, he did a commendable job after the race controlling his emotions, which still were palpable.

“He (Domestic Product) showed a lot of heart after getting bumped by (third-place finisher Grand Mo the First), and he showed a lot of perseverance,” Brown said. “He got good seasoning today. He had to rate and he was pulling a little bit off a slow pace, and I was really impressed with his heart and the fact he got his nose down on the wire.

“I think this race will serve him well moving forward. That’s why I wanted to run him here, because he needed a race like this for a little more experience and a little more seasoning.”

And about the delay.

“I was concerned about it, because you know how much time it usually takes these horses to warm up and get ready to run,” Brown said. “But then again everyone was in the same boat. So any way you look at it, from that perspective, the race is going to be run fairly, regardless. I’m happy management here decided to go ahead, because this is an important race for the Kentucky Derby, and I think they should be commended for putting the (wagering) aside and running the race.”

Gaffalione, who also won the Challenger Stakes (G3) on Skippylongstocking, was jubilant after the victory on Domestic Product.

“It worked out well, because I was able to get right behind Javier (Castellano on No More Time) the whole way,” Gaffalione said. “When we got around the three-eighths-mile pole, he started to ask his horse, and I just followed him. My horse was very responsive, and he did the job well. “That’s the thing I was most proud of coming into the stretch was that (Grand Mo the First) was kind of leaning on my horse, and I felt like if I could just get him free, I had plenty of horse. He’s still young, and he’s still learning, but I was very proud when he got (No More Time) at the wire.”

Both Castellano and No More Time’s trainer José D’Angelo dealt with the defeat as well as could be expected.

“My horse ran such a great race,” Castellano said. “Unfortunately, that’s horse racing, and (Domestic Product) nailed me at the wire. It was such a great race. It was a slow pace all the way on the backside, and turning for home when I asked my horse, he took off. He responded, but the other horse ran a little better. I am not disappointed in my horse. He ran such a good race, and sometimes it goes that way.”

“It was very close. It was a tough beat. He ran a very good race and got a perfect ride,” D’Angelo said. “I was a little sad afterward, but that’s racing. But we won more points, and we’re going to the Kentucky Derby I think. I think the 45 points he has is very good, so I think so, yes, (headed) for Kentucky. From his race today it looks like he wants to go longer, and that’s a very good thing.

“There are a lot of good things to look forward to with him.”