Ky. Derby prep: Draw, posts, riders for Tampa Bay Derby

Patch Adams and Chancer McPatrick are among the top 11 horses in the Las Vegas futures for Kentucky Derby 2025. They also were among the seven horses entered for Saturday’s Grade 3, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby.

The two-turn, 1 1/16-mile race at Tampa Bay Downs is worth 50-25-15-10-5 points toward getting into Kentucky Derby 2025, making it a virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifier for the May 3 classic at Churchill Downs.

Click here for Tampa Bay Downs entries and results.

Patch Adams, a WinStar Farm homebred colt by Into Mischief, is a maiden winner who has been an odds-on favorite in all three of his races. Trained by Brad Cox, he settled for fourth place in the Southwest (G3) at Oaklawn. Florent Géroux, who had the ride in the Into Mischief colt’s first two races, will be in the irons Saturday and starting from the outside post.

Undefeated in three starts before he finished sixth going two turns for the first time in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Chancer McPatrick got post 2 in Wednesday’s draw. A $725,000 McKinzie colt owned by Flanagan Racing and trained by Chad Brown, he will be ridden in his 2025 debut by his regular jockey Flavien Prat.

Patch Adams was showing as a 25-1 choice and Chancer McPatrick 30-1 on Wednesday morning in the Caesars Sportsbook Nevada futures for the Kentucky Derby.

Owen Almighty, who was on that same futures board at 55-1, has crossed the wire first or second in all five of his races. His apparent win two starts back in seven-furlong Pasco at Tampa Bay Downs was wiped out by a disqualification ruling that demoted him to fifth. Owned by Flying Dutchmen and trained by Brian Lynch, the Speightstown colt lost a duel to John Hancock last month in the Sam F. Davis over the same course and distance as the Tampa Bay Derby. Irad Ortiz Jr. keeps the ride and goes from the rail post Saturday.

Hill Road, a turf convert from Europe who finished third as a 61-1 long shot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, makes his second consecutive dirt start for trainer Chad Brown. Owned by Amo Racing USA, the Quality Road colt gets jockey Tyler Gaffalione for the first time and breaks from post 3.

Oaklawn allowance winner Brodeur, maiden victor Filoso and two-time Florida stakes winner Naughty Rascal also were entered for the Tampa Bay Derby, which will be run as the 11th race Saturday at 5:34 p.m. EST. The first post is at 12:05 p.m.