Verrazano didn’t win “from Staten Island to Brooklyn,” as Gulfstream Park track announcer Larry Colmus called after the big colt won his previous start by 16 lengths, but his three-length score in yesterday’s Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby served its purpose.
In his first start against stakes company after winning his first two races as much the best, and his first time going two turns, Verrazano toyed with his eight opponents to earn an all-important 50 points in the Kentucky Derby standings, guaranteeing the current Derby favorite a berth in the field for the 139th Run for the Roses on May 4, limited to 20 starters.
Now, trainer Todd Pletcher can afford to back off a bit and use Verrazano’s final start before the Derby, possibly the March 30 Florida Derby or April 6 Wood Memorial, as a prep, not a must-win race.
After breaking on top in the Tampa Bay Derby, John Velazquez took a hold of Verrazano, who appeared to be a bit rank, and let Falling Sky take the lead around the clubhouse turn. Down the backside, through an honest pace of 23.50 and 47.69 seconds, those two alternated for the lead, with Velazquez giving Verrazano his head to take command turning for home.
The outcome was never in doubt after that as the son of More Than Ready drew clear, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.96 to pay $2.80. He is the first favorite to win the Tampa Bay Derby since Sun King in 2005.