Tampa Bay Derby on Radar for Belgrade

Belgrade  may now be pointed to a prep race for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) following a quick return in an allowance optional claiming race Feb. 19 at Tampa Bay Downs after going through the ring at the Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.

The 3-year-old Hard Spun   colt won in fine form for new owners Carl and Yurie Pascarella. He changed hands for $700,000 at the Keeneland January sale to top Session 2 and was the second-highest price throughout the sale. Four Star Sales, agent, consigned Belgrade, who won on debut for previous owner Randy Bradshaw Dec. 18 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

Graham Motion, who now trains Belgrade, has the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) March 12 circled as a possibility on the calendar. The 1 1/16-mile race offers points on a 50-20-10-5 scale as part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

"This was the idea, to get him to this allowance race with the idea that if it went well, we could go on to the Tampa Derby. The only caveat is that this race was supposed to be a couple of days earlier, but it got pushed back a couple of days because they took a while to fill it," Motion said Sunday. "So if he comes back in the Tampa Derby, he will be coming back in three weeks, which I am not ruling out at all because he seemed to have come out of the race great. If things go well, that is my first choice."

The colt out of Miss Prytania (by Eskendereya ) bobbled just after breaking from post 1 Saturday then moved to the outside to drop off the leaders. He swung out four wide in the turn and steadily advanced into contention in the upper stretch. Belgrade pressed on to the wire with some encouragement from jockey Hector Diaz Jr. to win by a head in a final time of 1:24.10 for seven furlongs on a fast track.

Belgrade loves the winner’s circle! Gritty finish! @HerringswellStb @iwilsonasb @TampaBayDownsFL pic.twitter.com/VBBXTUxvei

— casey helen (@caseyhelennn) February 19, 2022

"Everything kind of fell into place and we have been able to do everything we wanted with him. He galloped for a couple of weeks before his first breeze," Motion said. "I spoke to Brendan (Walsh, previous trainer) about him and what his plans would have been, and things just worked out and fell into place to run this weekend. I realize he beat a much lesser field than what he would see in the Tampa Derby, but I thought he overcame a lot to do it and I thought Hector gave him a great ride. I think he certainly did enough to go onto the next step."

Bred in Kentucky by J. R. Ward Stables, Belgrade was initially picked up by Bradshaw from the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase for $45,000 when consigned by Brookdale Sales. He has career earnings of $35,400 after winning his first two starts.