IT was a quiet week on the Derby trials front in the US but the Grade 3 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby over a mile and half a furlong was won in emphatic style by a colt who could be among the favourites come May.

The grey Tapit colt Tapit Trice justified odds-on favouritism by coming with a strong run from well back in the field and in the colours of Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable, he was a two lengths winner for Todd Pletcher and Luis Saez.

Tapit Trice completed in 1m 43.37secs, which was faster than the past two runnings of the race.

Impressive

“It took him a while to get on track, but I was very impressed down the lane,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He finished up the way we expected him to. He certainly seems like the farther he goes, the stronger he gets. He’s got a big, long stride.

“Once he got clear down the lane he really extended himself, and I loved the way he finished up. He relished the two turns, and the longer he goes, the better he’ll get.”

With 50 points, the colt is sixth on the Derby qualifying board and the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes at 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on April 8th is his likely next race.

AWAY from the Derby, older fillies held sway and the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita was won by the Uncle Mo filly, A Mo Reay, for Brad Cox and Flavien Prat.

The four-year-old filly continued to grow when a trip to Oaklawn Park resulted in a late-closing half-length victory in the Grade 3 Bayakoa Stakes and was sent off at 7/1.

She joined favourite Fun To Dream at the top of the stretch, and though that horse initially moved clear again, A Mo Reay closed relentlessly to just get her head in front on the line and win by a head.

Secret Oath

At Oaklawn Park, one of last season’s top three-year-old fillies, the D Wayne Lukas-trained Secret Oath, opened her four-year-old campaign in very impressive fashion when she cruised through to win the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes by two and there-quarter lengths.

The daughter of Arrogate had been asked some stiff tasks in a nine race three-year-old campaign that began at Oaklawn in January, brought victory in the Kentucky Oaks and ended at the Breeders’ Cup, but she appeared none the worse for it here. Multiple Grade 1 winner Clairiere, narrowly beaten into third in the Breeders’ Cup was second. Secret Oath and new rider Tyler Gaffalione raced behind all but Clairiere off the early splits of 23.63secs and 48.39secs and finished out in 1m 43.26 secs.

Her 87-year-old trainer will move her back to Grade 1 also at Oaklawn next time.

“She’ll be in the Apple Blossom (April 15th) if everything goes good. I don’t think we’ll change anything. Tyler gave her a picture-perfect ride - exactly how we drew it up,” Lukas said.

At Tampa Bay, there was another success for the Irish-bred Shantisara, a five-year-old Coulsty mare bred by Oliver Donlon, who won the Grade 2 nine-furlong Hillsborough Stakes for Chad Brown.

ALSO in Kentucky Derby news, the former Bob Baffert, now Tim Yakteen-trained Arabian Knight, recent winner of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park at the end of January, is no longer in contention for a place in the Kentucky Derby.

According to an announcement posted on Twitter by owner Zedan Racing Stables.

“Trainer Tim Yakteen wasn’t happy with his last work and we feel it’s in Arabian Knight’s best interest not to rush and allow him more time to develop… and our plan is to point him toward a summer and fall campaign.”