TAMPA, Fla. – Oct. 30, 2026 – Three horses who ran in the Tampa Bay Derby will compete in the Breeders’ Cup races on Saturday, Oct. 31, at Keeneland, headlined by the 2026 Tampa Bay Derby winner The Puma in the G1 $7 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Puma drew post position four, and will be ridden by jockey Javier Castellano, with trainer Gustavo Delgado. The chestnut colt is the first graded stakes winner from the first crop of Essential Quality. On March 7, 2026, The Puma rallied from last to first, and earned his first career victory at Tampa Bay Downs. He covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast main track in 1:43:23.
Following his ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby victory, The Puma finished second in the G1 Florida Derby, losing by a nose to Commandment. He was subsequently scratched from the 2026 Kentucky Derby due to swelling associated with a skin infection.
He returned to the competition in July, starting in the G1 Haskell Stakes, finishing fourth, before earning another fourth-place finish in the G1 Travers Stakes in August. In September, The Puma returned to the Winner’s Circle in the G1 Pennsylvania Derby, securing his first G1victory against a strong field that included Baeza and Seize the Grey.
The Puma enters the Breeders’ Cup Classic with two wins, two runner-up finishes, and more than $1.1 million in career earnings across seven starts. Listed at 10-1 morning-line odds, he will face a formidable field that includes contenders such as the 2025 Kentucky Derby Winner Sovereignty, the 2026 Kentucky Derby Winner Golden Tempo, and the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic Champion Forever Young. Post time for the 2026 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic is scheduled for 6:16 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Further Ado finished second to The Puma in the 2026 Tampa Bay Derby and is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the G1 $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He drew post one with jockey Flavien Prat and trainer Brad Cox. The Gun Runner colt is 2-for-2 at Keeneland, including an 11-length win in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes in April.
Owen Almighty, the 2025 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby winner, will also run in the Dirt Mile from post 10 with jockey Luis Saez and trainer Brian Lynch. He won the Tampa Bay Derby by 3 1/2 lengths in 1:42.30. He is 10-1 on the morning line. The Dirt Mile is scheduled for 2:26 p.m. ET.
The G3 $500,000 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby returns on Saturday, March 6, 2027! Festival Day is one of the signature events of Tampa Bay Downs’ live-racing meet, featuring five stakes races, four of which are graded.
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Live racing returns at Tampa Bay Downs on November 18, 2026! The Downs Golf Practice facility now features Toptracer technology. While the Silks Poker Room remains open daily, offering additional entertainment alongside live racing and simulcasting.