Tampa, FL—-A lively crowd of 7,810 gathered at Tampa Bay Downs on March 8, 2025, to witness an impressive performance by Owen Almighty in the 45th running of the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G3). The three-year-old colt, sired by the late Speightstown, showcased his potential in the $400,000 contest, covering 1 1/16 miles on a fast dirt track in 1:42.30. His effort not only secured victory but also earned him a career-best 98 Beyer Speed Figure, placing his time just behind Tacitus’ 2019 record of 1:41.90.
Under the expert guidance of Irad Ortiz Jr., Owen Almighty bided his time through moderate fractions of :23.84, :48.16, and 1:12.54 before unleashing his decisive stretch run. With a strong closing kick, he completed the final five-sixteenths in :29.76, sealing a 3 ½-length victory over Chancer McPatrick, piloted by Flavien Prat. Another Chad Brown trainee, Hill Road, finished third under Tyler Gaffalione, trailing an additional 2 ¾ lengths.
For Ortiz, this marked his second Tampa Bay Derby triumph with trainer Bryan Lynch, having previously ridden Classic Causeway to victory in 2022. That year, Ortiz opted for Mo Donegal in the Kentucky Derby, leaving Julien Leparoux to guide Classic Causeway to a mid-pack finish in the 20-horse field.
Derby Dreams or a Different Path?
The win has sparked discussions about Owen Almighty’s next move. Lynch had previously suggested the Pat Day Mile (G2), a one-mile race on the Kentucky Derby undercard, might be his ideal target. However, with 65 qualifying points—50 of which came from his Tampa Bay Derby victory—the ownership group Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing LLC may be reconsidering, with Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby now firmly in sight.
Owen Almighty currently ranks second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, trailing only Coal Battle (70 points). With 11 more prep races remaining, including key 100-point qualifiers, the final field for the May 3, 2025, Kentucky Derby is far from set. Historically, Street Sense (2007) and Super Saver (2010) both used the Tampa Bay Derby as stepping stones to victory in the Run for the Roses, while Tacitus (2019) was the last to hit the board at Churchill after placing third in Tampa.
Final Standings and What’s Next
The complete order of finish saw Patch Adams (4th) for Brad Cox and Florent Geroux, followed by Brodeur (5th) for Mark Casse and Jose Ortiz, Naughty Rascal (6th) for Gerald Bennett and Samy Camacho, and Filoso (7th) for Chad Summers and Dylan Davis.
The next major Kentucky Derby prep race is the Virginia Derby (G3) at Colonial Downs on March 15, where more contenders will aim to solidify their spots in the Derby starting gate. As for Owen Almighty, the question remains—will he take the traditional path to Churchill Downs, or will his connections opt for a different route? Only time will tell.
