Conditions are listed as Fast and Firm for Sunday’s nine-race card at Tampa Bay Downs.
Sunday’s card follows Saturday’s annual Festival Day, when 49-shot King Guillermo scored a front-running 4 1/4 length over the 8-5 favorite Sole Volante in the Tampa Bay Derby (Grade 2).
King Guillermo earned 50 qualifying points for the 1 1/4 mile Kentucky Derby, which will be run on May2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. Sole Volante earned 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
It is likely that between 35 and 45 points will be the cutoff for gaining one of the 18 Kentucky Derby spots that are reserved for horses that race in U.S. qualifying races.
One spot is reserved for a horse with the most points in European qualifying races, and one spot is resserved for a horse with the most points in Japanese qualifying races.
Bob Bauer’s Bet — Sunday March 8
Today’s play is in Race 8, Post time is 3:50 PM. FUSED (7) gets first time blinkers on today for the Graham Motion barn. This lightly raced colt has logged a pair of bullet works and appears to be primed for a top effort to graduate vs. Maiden Special rivals at eight and one half furlongs on the lawn.
THE BET $20 to win on FUSED (7) and a $2 exacta box with CARAMELITO (1) and PUNCH HARD (2). 1,2,7 Total Bet $32. GOOD LUCK!!
