Correll’s Corner: Tampa belongs to Owen Almighty

Posted On 09 Mar 2025

Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

Tampa belongs to Owen Almighty

TRINITY, Fla. – How do you make 50 Kentucky Derby points disappear? You win the Tampa Bay Derby and decide you’re not going to the “big dance” on the first Saturday in May.

Trainer Brian Lynch said previously even if Owen Almighty won the Tampa Bay Derby they were headed to the Pat Day Mile on Derby Day instead of the “Run for the Roses.” After the race Lynch said that there will be a conversation with the owners, but he still is leaning toward the Pat Day. Being a son of Speightstown one can see the hesitation for the colt getting the classic distance.

Owen Almighty was the first to the lead and set easy fraction of 23.84, 48.16 and 1:12.54 for six furlongs and had plenty left coming off the second turn to repel all challenges to win by four lengths in 1:42.30 for the mile-and-a-sixteenth race over a fast track.

The colt has 65 points and a sure spot in the starting depending on the final decision by his connections. Chancer McPatrick was second and has 35 points, which is definitely on the bubble. Hill Road was third and has 24 points and Patch Adams has 14.

This week’s top 3-year-olds:

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) won the Lewis.

Journalism (Curlin) won the San Felipe.

Barnes (Into Mischief) second in San Felipe.

Rodriguez (Authetic) third in San Felipe.

Sovereignty (Into Mischief) won the Fountain of Youth.

John Hancock (Constitution) won the Sam F. Davis.

Coal Battle (Coal Front) won the Rebel at Oaklawn Park.

Disco Time (Not This Time) won the Lecomte at Fairgrounds.

River Thames (Maclean’s Music) second in Fountain of Youth.

Burnham Square (Liam’s Map) fourth in Fountain of Youth.

Getaway Car (Curlin) won the Sunland Derby.