Candy Man Rocket’s tactical ability should serve him well in Tampa Bay Derby
At 0h04, on March 5, 2021 • By TAMPA BAY DOWNS
Rain and unseasonable chill are in the Saturday forecast at Tampa Bay Downs, but somebody’s day will get much brighter as the sun is lowering itself onto a dreary Gulf Coast horizon. A 90 percent rain chance and a high temperature of just 17 degrees Celsius is what the weather folks are calling for on Festival Day, when the Tampa Derby goes as the 11th of 12 races and the last of five stakes. First post is 12:17 p.m., with the feature going at 5:25.
Candy Man Rocket, winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes here four weeks ago, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a full gate of 12 3-year-olds in the Tampa Derby, a 1 1/16-mile race offering qualifying points to the May 1 Kentucky Derby on a 50-20-10-5 scale.
Junior Alvarado will be back aboard Candy Man Rocket when they break from post 3 for owner Frank Fletcher and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
