Tampa Bay Picks- 2025 Kentucky Derby Prep (3/8/2025)

The racing action from Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday features the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. @HandicappingT3 has all the Tampa Bay Downs picks for the entire card!

Full Card Analysis

Bet all of today’s selections with signup bonuses and promotions at BetOnline.

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 1

Post Time: 12:05 PM ET; Claiming $18k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 12 runners

• #3 MR JACK (5-2): Top pick. Could be ready for a top effort.
• #11 HAKKIMI (15-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner.
• #9 KING MIANO (2-1): Major Player. Hard to argue with the recent races. Could jump up in the figures and be dangerous.
• #2 WALT WHITMAN (20-1): Fringe Contender. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.

Selections: 3 – 11 – 9 – 2

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 2

Post Time: 12:35 PM ET; Claiming $18k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 11 runners

• #8 OOPS HAHA (7-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #6 SCORED (9-2): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions. Should take a liking to the race shape.
• #2 CAPTIVATING SOUND (5-2): Worth a look. Hard to argue with the recent races.
• #10 CRYSTAL REIGN (20-1): Fringe Contender. Competitive enough in recent efforts. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 2 – 10

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 3

Post Time: 1:18 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $53k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 9 runners

• #6 FAST MARKET (6-1): Longshot play of the day. Comes in with solid form. Bet today’s live longshot on MyBookie.
• #5 NAKED EYE (4-1): Major Player. Seems to be up against the right competition. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
• #8 CHA CHA QUICK (9-5): Major Player. Previous success in similar race types.
• #9 HEY COOKIE (12-1): Contender. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 6 – 5 – 8 – 9

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 4

Post Time: 1:50 PM ET; Allowance $53k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 10 runners

• #7 NOVARA (4-1): Top pick. Decent form of late. Should still have something in the tank late.
• #2 DREAMING OF ABBA (6-1): Major Player. Good race flow for this runner. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #3 ALIMARA (7-2): Contender. Potential to kick home late. Previous success in similar race types.
• #8 UP HER SLEEVE (8-1): Contender. May be getting a weaker field than last out. Likely to win the battle if challenged in the stretch.

Selections: 7 – 2 – 3 – 8

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 5

Post Time: 2:21 PM ET; Michelob Ultra Challenger Stakes $125k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 8 runners

• #8 SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING (7-5): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Race sets up perfectly.
• #6 MOST WANTED (3-2): Major Player. Likely to get forward position. Good race flow for this runner.
• #5 PATRIOT SPIRIT (6-1): Contender. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Should sit a good trip.
• #7 BENDOOG (5-1): Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 8 – 6 – 5 – 7

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 6

Post Time: 2:55 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $53k; 7 F Dirt; Field of 14 runners

• #2 MOMENT’S NOTICE (7-2): Top pick. Proven competitor at this configuration. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
• #3 WISE UP (5-2): Contender. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #1 FIRST ACT (15-1): Worth a look. Could wear these ones down late.
• #12 ACCELERIZE (9-2): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 1 – 12

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 7

Post Time: 3:28 PM ET; Columbia Stakes $125k; 1 M Turf; Field of 9 runners

• #9 DREAM ON (4-1): Top pick. Race sets up perfectly.
• #6 ZULU KINGDOM (2-1): Major Player. Should still be running strong in the closing stages.
• #1 EARLY ADOPTER (6-1): Major Player. Not likely to be short in the stretch. This one’s a fighter in the late stages.
• #7 VERSUS (12-1): Contender. Race shape gives this one an edge. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 9 – 6 – 1 – 7

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 8

Post Time: 3:59 PM ET; Allowance Optional Claiming $53k; 6 F Dirt; Field of 13 runners

• #12 LASER SHARP (3-1): Top pick. Looks good based on the 90 speed rating which is among the top in the group. Race sets up perfectly.
• #10 CRUISING DEREK (20-1): Fringe Contender. Should take a liking to the race shape.
• #11 SILVER SLUGGER (7-2): Worth a look. Potentially ready to hit a top number. Could wear these ones down late.
• #6 TAKESCHARGESMILING (5-1): Fringe Contender. Can compete from a speed figure standpoint. Shouldn’t be disadvantaged by the flow of the race.

Selections: 12 – 10 – 11 – 6

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 9

Post Time: 4:31 PM ET; Hillsborough Stakes $225k; 1 1/8 M Turf; Field of 10 runners

• #8 SAFFRON MOON (9-5): Best bet of the card. Stamina to outlast the competition. Bet today’s best bet with industry-leading rebates on BetOnline.
• #4 VENENCIA (6-1): Major Player. Expected to maintain its energy reserves into the final stretch.
• #6 SPALIDAY (4-1): Contender. Previous success in similar race types.
• #1 SPARKLE BLUE (8-1): Fringe Contender. Race conditions fit this one well.

Selections: 8 – 4 – 6 – 1

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 10

Post Time: 5:03 PM ET; Florida Oaks $200k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 12 runners

• #9 NITROGEN (5-2): Top pick. Stamina to outlast the competition. Solid closing kick.
• #10 PRETTY LAVISH (6-1): Fringe Contender. Seems to be up against the right competition. Demonstrated success under similar conditions.
• #12 MIAVANA (12-1): Worth a look. Should sit a good trip.
• #5 LOVE YOU ANYWAY (30-1): Underneath. Race conditions fit this one well. May be getting a weaker field than last out.

Selections: 9 – 10 – 12 – 5

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 11

Post Time: 5:34 PM ET; Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby $400k; 1 1/16 M Dirt; Field of 7 runners

• #2 CHANCER MCPATRICK (8-5): Top pick. Odds suggest this colt is ready to fire on debut. Proven competitor at this configuration.
• #3 HILL ROAD (4-1): Major Player. Like this one if a stretch duel ensues.
• #1 OWEN ALMIGHTY (5-1): Contender. Hard to argue with the recent races. May be able find the right setup.
• #7 PATCH ADAMS (2-1): Contender. Race conditions fit this one well. Potential to get the pace of the race flow.

Selections: 2 – 3 – 1 – 7

Tampa Bay Downs Picks – Race 12

Post Time: 6:06 PM ET; Maiden Special Weight $53k; 1 1/16 M Turf; Field of 14 runners

• #5 NATIVE ROSE (15-1): Top pick. Solid closing kick. Love the heart this one shows in a fight.
• #12 EVELYN LOUISE (15-1): Contender. Good race flow for this runner.
• #14 ROMINA (15-1): Worth a look. Not likely to be short in the stretch. Potential to have this pace fall just right.
• #6 GOLD STAMP (20-1): Fringe Contender. Ran at this level last out.

Selections: 5 – 12 – 14 – 6

Betting News Horse Racing Coverage

Don’t miss all the horse racing action covered by Betting News each and every week. Coverage includes free handicapping tools, comprehensive guides, and in-depth analysis of the week’s biggest cards. Check out our full card analysis for this week’s upcoming big races:

Saturday Analysis

• Aqueduct Picks featuring the Gander Stakes
• Gulfstream Park Picks featuring the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie
• Oaklawn Park Picks featuring the Grade 2 Azeri Stakes
• Santa Anita Picks featuring the Grade 1 Beholder Mile Stakes
• Tampa Bay Picks featuring the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby offering Kentucky Derby Prep points