Will Odysseus be a Trojan Horse in Tampa Bay Derby - 03-12-10

March 12 - Tomorrow (Saturday, March 13) at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida, racehorse trainer Tom Albertrani will get to find out exactly how good his talented charge Odysseus is when he goes up against six other three-year-old colts in the $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (Gr 3) over 1 1/16 miles.

Just one of 12 races scheduled for the Festival Day race meeting at Tampa Bay Downs, the Tampa Bay Derby is the day's feature and will be run after two other Gr 3 races, the $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes and the $175,000 Florida Oaks. And racing fans will be eager to see how Odysseus fares.

To date Odysseus has won two out of three races. He finished second in his career debut at Aqueduct Racecourse in New York last fall following an unlucky start. He then won his maiden over 7 furlongs at Gulfstream Park before crushing the field in a first-level allowance at Tampa Bay last month.

Said Albertrani, 'Odysseus didn't run against the toughest group in his last race. Now, it's time to step up to the next level. Hopefully there'll be enough speed in there to set up the same scenario for him as in his last race. My only real concern is that he tends to get a little hot in the post parade.'

Going into the Tampa Bay Derby as the 7/2 fourth favorite, Odysseus will have some sharp rivals to overcome including speedster and race favorite, Super Saver, who will be making his first start since winning the $150,000 Kentucky Jockey Club (Gr 2) in November last year at Churchill Downs.

Add to that the fact that Super Saver is trained by highly respected trainer, Todd Pletcher, who has been putting the colt through his paces ahead of tomorrow's big race. Last Sunday he ended a series of works with an impressive drill that saw the colt cover five furlongs in a quick time of 1:00.70.

Then there is Schoolyard Dreams and Uptowncharlybrown, who finished second and third respectfully behind Rule in the Sam F. Davis Stakes (Gr 3) a month ago. Trainer Alan Seewald will put blinkers on Uptowncharlybrown for the first time on Saturday in the hope of improving his performance.

Here is the complete field and odds for the  $300,000 Tampa Bay Derby (Gr 3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, March 13:

1. Uptowncharlybrown (KY) 5/2
2. Tuvia's Force (KY) 12/1
3. Gleam of Hope (KY) 15/1
4. Slammy Boy (KY) 20/1
5. Schoolyard Dreams (KY) 3/1
6. Super Saver (KY) 2/1
7. Odysseus (KY) 7/2