GIII Tampa Bay Derby
3yo, 1 1/16m
With an emphatic two length victory over early Derby favorite Bluegrass Cat, DEPUTY GLITTERS established himself as a marquee name on the Derby trail. A tough luck second to the much-hyped Blegrass Cat in their last start, the talented son of Deputy Commander demonstrated that his best days may very well lay in front of him as he cruised to an easy two length victory. A 13 length winner of his debut at Saratoga last summer, Deputy Glitters has relished the added distances of his sophomore campaign and, like many Deputy Commander’s, should be at his best when racing at the classic distances. His next start should come in either the G1 Bluegrass Stakes or the G1 Wood Memorial as he continues on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
Congratulations to owner/breeder Joseph LaCombe Stables, trainer Thomas Albertrani and jockey Jose Lezcano!
GIII Rebel Staks
Oaklawn Park, 1 1/16m
Deputy Glitters wasn’t the only Deputy Commander inspiring Derby talk on Saturday. Stakes winner RED RAYMOND made a strong Derby case of his own in finishing a hard-charging second to top contender Lawyer Ron in the Grade III Rebel Stakes. Trailing throughout much of the race, Red Raymond made a powerful stretch run that demonstrated he too should be well suited to the longer distances of his upcoming starts. Finishing ahead of top Derby hopefuls Steppenwolfer and the multiuple graded stakes winner Private Vow, Red Raymond will most probably make his next start in the GII Arkansas Derby.
