By Joe Quillen
Tampa Bay Derby Results
Domestic Product nosed out No More Time to win a blanket finish of Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby which was correctly called “Unusual” by Tampa Bay Downs track announcer Jason Beem as the horses were pulled up approaching the clubhouse turn.
What made the race “unusual” was the fact that the tote system crashed before the track could declare the tenth race official. As a result, bettors who did not put in their wagers before the system went down around 4:50 pm Eastern time could not get their wagers in nor cash tickets from the race that had just been completed.
According to Matt Hegarty of Daily Racing Form, the disruption occurred when the links maintained by Roberts Communications Network suffered outages, occurring to Robers and 1/ST Racing, the owner of AmTote. The outages knocked out took down both the primary and backup networks that are used to keep information flowing from Tampa and the AmTote hub in Maryland.
Tampa Bay Downs management delayed the race by almost 40 minutes in hopes that the outage would be restored in time for the race. Because the outage could not be restored, and the race was finally run as a non-wagering event, and any wagers on the Tampa Bay Derby (race 11 of a 12-race card) that were submitted before the outage were refunded. Because of the decreasing daylight and the delay that occurred, the final race of the day was cancelled.
No More Time loomed down the backstretch and took the lead on the final turn. Grand Mo the First made a four wide turn and continued to close while pacesetter Good Money almost stole the race with very slow fractions on the front end. But Domestic Productshot through the hole between No More Time and Grand Mo the First to win the race and earn 50 points for the win.
The top horses will give their connections an unusual decision to make. Do they run again between now and the Kentucky Derby? As of Sunday, Chad Brown said he is not comfortable with training Domestic Product up to the Derby and will run at either Keeneland for the Blue Grass or the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 6, while Jose Francisco D’Angelo will most likely train his horse No More Timeup to the Derby.
After all the “unusual” events of the Tampa Bay Derby, the next Kentucky Derby prep race is not until March 23, when the 100-point races begin. The Louisiana Derby will be held at the Fair Grounds, while the Jeff Ruby Steaks (yes, that spelling is correct) will be held at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky.
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