Nominations have been released for the 45th running of the $400,000-guaranteed Grade III Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. Correlate that this is a major “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race. Specifically, the total Horse racing Odds purse money for the five Festival Day 45 races is $1,075,000. Thus making it the most lucrative day in track history. The total includes $175,000 from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Stakes Fund. In turn, those are earmarked for registered Florida breeds finishing first, second, or third in any of the races.
2025 Tampa Bay Derby Betting Information
| Date and Time: | Saturday, March 8, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location: | Tampa Bay Downs, Tampa, FL |
| TV Coverage: | Check Listings |
| Betting Online Odds at SBG: | Click Here |
2025 Tampa Bay Derby SBG Odds Overview
Specifically, the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby is run at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the main dirt track. There is offshore betting awards qualifying points for the May 3 Kentucky Derby to the top five finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
Two horses have advanced from the race to win the Kentucky Derby: Namely, Street Sense, who won both races in 2007. And then Super Saver, who finished third in the 2010 Tampa Bay Derby before his Run for the Roses triumph.
The Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby is the Oldsmar Oval’s traditional showcase and has attracted 50 3-year-old nominees. Including top Kentucky Derby prospects such as Chancer McPatrick. Chancer McPatrick is a two-time Grade I winner as a 2-year-old owned by Flanagan Racing and trained by Chad Brown.
Next, Sovereignty is a Grade III winner bred and owned by Godolphin, LLC, and trained by Bill Mott. Also, Burnham Square, a Grade III winner bred and owned by Whitham Thoroughbreds and trained by Ian Wilkes, is a possibility. And then there is John Hancock, the winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 8 at Tampa Bay Downs, owned by WinStar Farm and CHC, Inc., and trained by Brad Cox.
Cox leads all 2025 Tampa Bay Derby Odds trainers with 13 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby nominees. Of course, Todd Pletcher, who has won the race a record six times, has five nominees. Including Donegal Racing’s Grade III-placed Gate to Wire, who won the Swale Stakes on Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park. Brown won last year’s Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby with Domestic Product, Correlate that he has four nominees, headed by Chancer McPatrick and Amo Racing USA’s Hill Road, who finished third in November in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Additionally, the top three finishers in Saturday’s $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs – John Hancock, Owen Almighty, and Poster – have climbed into the top 13 of point-getters on the “Road to the Kentucky Derby.” Specifically, that is the series of races determining eligibility for the Run for the Roses on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
John Hancock set a stakes record of 1:42.27 for the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance under jockey Flavien Prat in only his second career start. As a result, he earned 20 points to move into a six-way tie for third on the list. Tiebreakers are employed to determine a horse’s official standing.
Poster earned six points to finish third, giving him 16 and a tie for 10th with Getaway Car. Next in line with 15 are Jonathan’s Way and Owen Almighty, who earned 10 points for his second-place game Sam F. Davis finish.
2025 Tampa Bay Derby SBG Best Bets: Chancer McPatrick and Owen Almighty.