Horses

Merit takes Derby with difficulty

OLDSMAR -- Region of Merit had things aligned well before the start of the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby.

Sky Mesa, a Kentucky Derby prospect, was out with an injury, and Hutcheson Stakes winner Lion Tamer raced elsewhere Sunday.

But with his path cleared, Region of Merit struggled with the rest of the field.

After winning twice at Gulfstream Park, Region of Merit had trouble adjusting to the surface at Tampa Bay Downs.

He needed most of the backstretch to rally past pacesetter Hear No Evil and withstood a late charge by Aristocrat to win the 1 1/16-mile Grade III race in 1 minute, 44.61 seconds.

"He was struggling a little with the track," jockey Eibar Coa said. "He broke out of the gate and was in contention to the five-eighths pole, but he really lost a bit when he hit the backstretch. I really had to ask him from that point and ride him all the way around. He didn't want to go by himself, so I had to help him and keep him in the race.

"We think this horse is still learning and will improve. I don't think he ran as well as he can today, but we still won. When he runs 100 percent, he's going to improve over today."

Hear No Evil finished a neck back in third. He was followed by White Buck, Strength Within, Cajun Beat, Fast Eddie D and Popular Groom.

Region of Merit, ranked 16th in the Thoroughbred Times top 20, was the betting favorite and paid $5.20. It was his third win in his past four starts and kept him in the running for the Kentucky Derby.

"It was a game race," said Christophe Clement, who trains Region of Merit for Kentucky's Calumet Farm. "I thought it would have been a little easier, but he won, so it doesn't matter. I'm very happy with his performance in a stakes race. He's proved he's a stakes horse."

In the $150,000 Florida Oaks, Ebony Breeze also benefited from the competition -- or lack of.

Ivanavinalot, a six-time winner in nine starts, was scratched after winning the $200,000 Grade II Bonnie Miss Stakes on Friday.

With her path cleared, Ebony Breeze beat Dakota Light by a half-length to win the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:45.20.

"Actually, that wasn't too easy," trainer Bill Mott said. "She's had a history of rocking back and forth in the gate, and just before they kicked it, they had to get her back on her feet so she wasn't planted properly when she broke. She got off okay, not great."

Ebony Breeze, owned by George Steinbrenner's Kinsman Stable, paid $2.60 as the favorite.

In an upset, Straight from Texas set the pace to win the $100,000 Hillsborough Stakes for fillies and mares, finishing in a record 1:41.10.

AQUEDUCT: Alysweep joined the list of Kentucky Derby contenders. Taking the lead around the first turn, Alysweep ran to a 41/4-length victory over Grey Comet in the Gotham Stakes in Elmont, N.Y.

Trainer Patrick Reynolds said Alysweep would run next in the Wood Memorial or Blue Grass Stakes, both April 12, before deciding on the Derby on May 3. Alysweep paid $21, $9.30 and $7.30.

GULFSTREAM: Gold Mover won her second straight Hurricane Bertie Handicap, beating favorite Harmony Lodge by 31/2 lengths in the $100,000 race. Gold Mover, who has 12 victories in 27 starts, returned $4.60, 2.40 and $2.10.

Also, jockey Jorge Chavez will miss a week with a slight concussion after a spill during Saturday's Florida Derby. Chavez was aboard Midway Cat when the colt fell around the far turn. Midway Cat, trained by Rick Hiles, broke his right front foot and was euthanized.

SANTA ANITA: Buddy Gil won the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes by a nose over heralded rivals Atswhatimtalknbout, Domestic Dispute and Man Among Men. The 3-year-old paid $21.60, $7.20 and $5.20 at 9-1 odds.

Though Buddy Gil is not nominated to the Triple Crown races, trainer Jeff Mullins said it is only a matter of time. It would cost the colt's owners $22,500 to nominate him to the Santa Anita Derby on April 5.

-- Information from Times wires was used in this report.

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