DOMESTIC PRODUCT, a Klaravich Stables homebred, won the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby in a closely contested finish, earning 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby despite a tote issue delay and the race being run as a non-wagering event.
‣ The GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby experienced a significant delay of over 30 minutes due to a tote issue affecting many locations on the East Coast, leading to the decision to run the Kentucky Derby points race as a non-wagering event, and the final race on the card was canceled.
‣ Domestic Product, a homebred for Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, won the Tampa Bay Derby in a closely contested finish, earning 50 qualifying points for the Road to the Kentucky Derby. This victory marked the first Tampa Bay Derby win for both the trainer Chad Brown and jockey Tyler Gaffalione.
‣ The pedigree of Domestic Product highlights his sire, Practical Joke, as the continent’s current-leading fourth-crop sire of 2024 by both earnings and black-type winners, emphasizing the significance of breeding in the success of racehorses.
#5 DOMESTIC PRODUCT wins the tight photo in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3). He earns 50 points on the @SpendthriftFarm Road to the Kentucky Derby for trainer Chad Brown with @Tyler_Gaff in the irons. Domestic Product is sired by @CoolmoreAmerica's Practical Joke. pic.twitter.com/1q3IqJgMDh
— TVG (@TVG) March 9, 2024
Oh boy, where do I even start? The GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby turned into quite the spectacle, didn’t it? Delayed for over half an hour because of a tote issue. And not just any issue, but one that was causing headaches across much of the East Coast.
Finally, when the race did get underway, it was nothing short of a wild scramble at the finish. Klaravich Stables’ own Domestic Product, a 3-year-old colt by Practical Joke, clinched the win. It was a nail-biter, folks. No More Time was right there, just a nose away from victory, settling for second place instead.
And let’s not forget about Grand Mo the First and Good Money. They were in the thick of it too, making noise right up until the end. The final time? 1:45.47 for the 8 1/2 furlongs. All top five finishers nabbed some points for the Kentucky Derby. The points were doled out on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
Now, picture this: the runners were just circling in the paddock for what felt like forever—30 minutes, to be exact. All because of that tote outage. Tampa Bay Downs officials had to make a tough call. They decided to run this Kentucky Derby points race without any betting. Can you imagine? And to top it off, the race that was supposed to follow got canceled. Just like that.
Domestic Product, though, had his own drama at the start. Broke outward, bumped a bit, but nothing too serious. Tyler Gaffalione, the jockey, didn’t seem too fazed. He managed to find a sweet spot midpack and kept Domestic Product under a strong hold. Good Money set a leisurely pace, but when it was go-time, Domestic Product was ready, joining the fray in a dramatic finish.
For Chad Brown, Tyler Gaffalione, and Klaravich Stables, it was their first Tampa Bay Derby win. Quite the milestone, considering the race’s history since 1981 and its $400,000 purse. Only one horse has won this and then gone on to win the Kentucky Derby. That was Street Sense, back in 2007.
Before this, Domestic Product had a mixed bag of results. There was that second place in the Holy Bull, and before that, a win at Belmont. But also a seventh place in the Remsen, which, interestingly enough, is turning out to be quite the indicator of talent.
Pedigree-wise, Domestic Product has some interesting notes. He’s the first stakes winner for a daughter of Paynter. And sired by Practical Joke, who’s making waves as a sire. The dam, Goods and Services, hasn’t raced but was sold while Domestic Product was just a weanling. She’s had a few foals since, with mixed fortunes.
And there you have it. The Tampa Bay Derby, with all its twists and turns, delays, and a finish that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Plus, a bit of pedigree trivia to chew on. What a race, huh?
