The TAM Derby (Grade 2) (KYD) $400.000 Purse
TAM- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
March 10, 2018

It was a good span of about ten minutes for Estero Farms. With the post times of the Gotham and the TAM Derby being just five minutes apart, the trainer did not have much time to celebrate winning the Gotham with Pretty Ferro before checking to see how Regret Nothing would fare in the TAM Derby. That would also end up in a win, making the trainer very happy in a short stretch of time. Of course, earlier on the race card at TAM, he also won with Quiver Pond in the FL Oaks, giving him a sense of what Mb Stables’ goes through on a frequent basis. Of the three wins, Regret Nothing is probably the biggest surprise, not that it was an upset, but because recent form was not as good into the race, as it was for say, Pretty Ferro in the Gotham. It is the first win in the stake for the trainer and for the jockey R Chirinos. Now, Estero Farms will have to look buck history with Regret Nothing, because as we mentioned in the preview the best ever finish by a TAM Derby winner in the KYD is 8th. The time of the win was 1:41.73, a middle of the road time when comparing it to prior editions. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.05)- No one in the field looks to be particularly shot out of the gate, but soon enough it ends up being Silver Panther jumping out to the lead for Axeman as they going into the opening turn, and he has some company in the form of Theory, from D J C Racing Stables. Once they are each able to get over the rail, both seem a little inspired to open up a little bit, and the advantage becomes nearly two lengths over the third place Regret Nothing, the eventual winner. What Have You Done (Mb Stables) ran right beside Regret Nothing early, just like he would end up doing at the end. Living Healthy (First Class Stables) and Charleys Agent (Mb Stables) were also close by. Going back another length and a half, we’d have a four wide battle consisting of, from inside to outside, Siberian Prince (Sir Daniel Martin), One For Charlie (TwinTowersRacing), Storming Cobra (Mo Mentum Farm), and Pure Gifts (Mb Stables). Local Hero (D J C Racing Stables) trailed them by about two lengths, and promptly going to the rear of the field was Audioslave (Alydar Stables).

(½ Mile- :46.07)- Heading down the backstretch, Theory takes control of the race lead as Silver Panther retreats to a stalking position. Regret Nothing, while running in the fourth lane, advances his position well at this point and begins to pull up alongside Theory. What Have You Done is not going to let him get away either, and continues to shadow Regret Nothing. After Silver Panther, who is now fourth, Charleys Agent and Storming Cobra are about three lengths out of it as they run side by side, and Living Healthy is within a half length of them. Not much going on with the rest of the field at this time.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5 F To Go)- Regret Nothing would take the lead towards the end of the backstretch run, and looked to pull away with in the turn. What Have You Done had the same idea, and as the field went around the turn, these two began to put the rest of the field behind them. At the top of the stretch, Regret Nothing and What Have You Done looked like they would have a good duel between them. Third place Stormin Cobra was about two lengths back, and had Living Healthy alongside of him, but the impressive mover at this point would be Pure Gifts. While running about five or six wide, he handled the turn well and moved into fifth, and seemed destined to pick up at least two more positions. Siberian Prince and One For Charlie were looking for outside lanes as well. As for the pace setter Theory, he was dropping back hard, as was Silver Panther. Charleys Agent, Local Hero, and Audioslave all needed to get moving now if they were to have a chance.

(Finish- 1:41.73)- Regret Nothing and What Have You Done would have a fantastic stretch duel, and for a moment What Have You Done looked like he might poke his head in front, but in the final moments, Regret Nothing found an added gear, and got ahead of him just enough to pull out the victory. Pure Gifts made an impressive push on the outside to get up for third, and had this race been just a little longer, he may have beaten both of them. Running fourth would be Local Hero, a horse who exploded with run at the top of the stretch. Once the switch was flipped, he was impressive, as he is just a bit ahead of Living Healthy and Storming Cobra. Siberian Prince was in the mix as well, and Audioslave got closer in the stretch. The rest of the field were disappointments as the running order is finished out by One for Charlie being ahead of Charleys Agent, Silver Panther and Theory.

About The Winner- Regret Nothing, trained by Estero Farms, and ridden to victory by R Chirinos, is a three year old gelding by Mucho Hype, and out of Pink Snow. He was bred in California by Downwind Stables as a second quarter two year old, and acquired by Estero Farms in private sales, unraced, for $150.000 in July. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in eight starts, and his second stake win, both of which are graded. His career earnings are now $427.800.

Track: Fast
Time: :23   :46   1:09⁴  1:41³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 9 – 7 Paid 75.70
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 7 – 12 Paid 699.10

Scratched: First Class Male, Tsali

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES