First Look: 6 key stakes include prep for Kentucky Derby prep

Call it a prep for a prep. It might not have graded badging, but the Pasco Stakes on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs could serve as a building block for Kentucky Derby 2025

That was just what West Saratoga did last year when he finished second in Florida on the way to his 12th-place result in May at Churchill Downs. Then there was Book’em Danno, whose victory in the 2024 Pasco was a springboard to a second in the Saudi Derby (G3) and wins in the Woody Stephens (G1) and Jersey Shore.

Stakes winner Owen Almighty is the likely favorite for the 2025 Pasco. It is the traditional prep for the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), which is a virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifier for Kentucky. The race scheduled this year for March 8 was a proving ground for Street Sense and Super Saver to have successful runs for the roses.

One graded race, the Las Ciénegas (G3) on Sunday at Santa Anita, is among six notable stakes this week.

Saturday

Pasco, Tampa Bay Downs, 7 furlongs, 3-year-olds

Owen Almighty began his career with two wins, including a 4 3/4-length August triumph in the Ellis Park Juvenile to earn an 84 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form. The Speightstown colt owned by the Boersma family and trained by Brian Lynch was making up ground late finishing second last out Sept. 14 in the Iroquois (G3). That one-turn mile at Churchill Downs was the first qualifying race for Kentucky Derby 2025, so Owen Almighty has five points in his account.

Gasparilla, Tampa Bay Downs, 7 furlongs, 3-year-old fillies

The Boersmas and Lynch also have the possible favorite in this local trial for next month’s Suncoast Stakes, a Kentucky Oaks (G1) points race. Mrs Worldwide already has six starts to her name, winning three of them. She finished first against Florida-breds in the 6 1/2-furlong Juvenile Fillies Sprint in November at Gulfstream Park. In her most recent start last month, the $100,000 Global Campaign filly closed into a half-length score in the six-furlong Sandpiper at Tampa Bay Downs.

California Cup Derby, Santa Anita, 1 1/16 miles, California-bred or sired 3-year-olds

This is a rematch of the top five from the King Glorious, a two-turn mile Dec. 15 at Los Alamitos. The first three were only a half-length apart in the win photo. Shea Brennan, who has been in the money in all five of his starts, led most of the way and won by a nose. Allowance winner I’m a Bad Boy closed wide from fifth and finished second. R Heisman, the 3-2 favorite who has hit the board in three stakes, lost the stretch duel and finished third.

California Cup Oaks, Santa Anita, 1 mile, turf, California-bred or sired 3-year-old fillies

Tequilaandtherapy returns to the turf, where she broke her maiden during the Del Mar summer. Three months ago trainer Doug O’Neill sent the Mrazek filly into the Surfer Girl (G3), where she finished a distant fourth covering the same course and distance as the Cal Cup Oaks. Owned by Paul Reddam, Tequilaandtherapy was an 11-1 winner in the seven-furlong Golden State Juvenile Fillies in November on Del Mar’s main track and third last month in the one-mile Soviet Problem against state-bred rivals at Los Alamitos.

Unusual Heat Turf Classic, Santa Anita, 1 1/8 miles, turf, California-bred or sired 4-year-olds and up

Keep Movin’ On, a 4-year-old trained by Tim Yakteen, had a three-race winning streak snapped last out when he finished third in a Pleasanton allowance test. On the Whim, a 5-year-old gelding from Dean Pederson’s barn, was a beaten favorite Nov. 30 at Del Mar coming off a sprint victory against state-breds in the California Flag Handicap on Oct. 13 at Santa Anita. Aligato, who just turned 8, was a close third in this race last year and was an allowance winner last spring before going on an eight-month break.

Sunday

Las Ciénegas (G3), Santa Anita, about 6 1/2 furlongs, hillside turf, fillies and mares, 4-year-olds and up

Laulne was a Group 3 winner in France who finished 10th in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita. Sol Kumin bought a majority of her that weekend and sent her to D’Amato. After a five-month break she won the Angels Flight and then finished 1 1/2 lengths behind in third as the 5-2 favorite in the Señorita (G3). Both those stakes were over the same course and distance as the Las Ciénegas, where the 4-year-old Starspangledbanner filly is entered to come back from eight months on the bench.