Tampa Bay Picks- 2025 Kentucky Derby Prep (3/8/2025)

The racing action from Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday features the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. @HandicappingT3 has all the Tampa Bay Downs picks for the entire card!

Full Card Analysis

Tampa Bay Picks- 2025 Kentucky Derby Prep (3/8/2025)

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Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:05 PM ET; Claiming $18k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners

#3 MR JACK (5-2): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort.
#11 HAKKIMI (15-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner.
#9 KING MIANO (2-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
#2 WALT WHITMAN (20-1): Fringe Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.

Selections: 3 – 11 – 9 – 2

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:35 PM ET; Claiming $18k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners

#8 OOPS HAHA (7-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Proven competitor at this configuration.
#6 SCORED (9-2): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Should take a liking to the race shape.
#2 CAPTIVATING SOUND (5-2): Worth a look. Hard to argue with the recent races.
#10 CRYSTAL REIGN (20-1): Fringe Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 2 – 10

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:18 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $53k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners

Longshot Play of the Day

#6 FAST MARKET (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Comes in with solid form. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
#5 NAKED EYE (4-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
#8 CHA CHA QUICK (9-5): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types.
#9 HEY COOKIE (12-1): Contender. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 8 – 9

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:50 PM ET; Allowance $53k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 10 runners

#7 NOVARA (4-1): Top pick. Decent form of late. Should still have something in the tank late.
#2 DREAMING OF ABBA (6-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
#3 ALIMARA (7-2): Contender. Potential to kick home late. Previous success in similar race types.
#8 UP HER SLEEVE (8-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 3 – 8

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:21 PM ET; Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes $125k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners

#8 SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (7-5): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Race sets up perfectly.
#6 MOST WANTED (3-2): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Good race flow for this runner.
#5 PATRIOT SPIRIT (6-1): Contender. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Should sit a good trip.
#7 BENDOOG (5-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 5 – 7

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:55 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $53k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners

#2 MOMENT’S NOTICE (7-2): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
#3 WISE UP (5-2): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
#1 FIRST ACT (15-1): Worth a look. Could wear these ones down late.
#12 ACCELERIZE (9-2): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 1 – 12

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:28 PM ET; Columbia Stakes $125k; 1 M Turf; Field of 9 runners

#9 DREAM ON (4-1): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly.
#6 ZULU KINGDOM (2-1): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
#1 EARLY ADOPTER (6-1): Major Player. Not likely to be short in the stretch. This one’s a fighter in the late stages.
#7 VERSUS (12-1): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 9 – 6 – 1 – 7

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:59 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $53k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 13 runners

#12 LASER SHARP (3-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 90 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Race sets up perfectly.
#10 CRUISING DEREK (20-1): Fringe Contender. Should take a liking to the race shape.
#11 SILVER SLUGGER (7-2): Worth a look. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Could wear these ones down late.
#6 TAKESCHARGESMILING (5-1): Fringe Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 12 – 10 – 11 – 6

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:31 PM ET; Hillsborough Stakes $225k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 10 runners

Best Bet of the Card

#8 SAFFRON MOON (9-5): Best bet of the card. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
#4 VENENCIA (6-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
#6 SPALIDAY (4-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types.
#1 SPARKLE BLUE (8-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 6 – 1

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:03 PM ET; Florida Oaks $200k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 12 runners

#9 NITROGEN (5-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Solid closing kick.
#10 PRETTY LAVISH (6-1): Fringe Contender. Seems to be up against the right competition. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
#12 MIAVANA (12-1): Worth a look. Should sit a good trip.
#5 LOVE YOU ANYWAY (30-1): Underneath. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 9 – 10 – 12 – 5

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:34 PM ET; Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby $400k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners

#2 CHANCER MCPATRICK (8-5): Top pick. Odds suggest this colt is ready to fire on debut. Proven competitor at this configuration.
#3 HILL ROAD (4-1): Major Player. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
#1 OWEN ALMIGHTY (5-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. May be able find the right setup.
#7 PATCH ADAMS (2-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 1 – 7

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 6:06 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $53k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 14 runners

#5 NATIVE ROSE (15-1): Top pick. Solid closing kick. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
#12 EVELYN LOUISE (15-1): Contender. Good race flow for this runner.
#14 ROMINA (15-1): Worth a look. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
#6 GOLD STAMP (20-1): Fringe Contender. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 5 – 12 – 14 – 6

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