Bond Holder ‘day-to-day’ for Tampa Bay Derby

Oldsmar, FL (SportsNetwork.com) – It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for 3- year-old colt Bond Holder.

After experiencing a very bumpy flight from California to Louisiana which knocked the colt around so much he had to be scratched from the Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds on Feb. 22, Bond Holder is listed as a possible starter in the $350,000, 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs on March 8.

“He’s day-to-day. He’s tentatively scheduled to work at Tampa Monday, and if all goes well, he’ll run in the Tampa Bay Derby, ” said Dennis O’Neill, brother of trainer Doug O’Neill.

Bond Holder, unraced in 2014, won Santa Anita’s FrontRunner Stakes last September with fourth-place finishes in both the CashCall Futurity and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The colt has earned $366,000 in his seven career starts, all with Mario Gutierrez in the saddle.

The Tampa Bay Derby, part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” Championship Series, awards 50 points to the winner, 20 points for second, 10 for third and 5 for fourth.

Categorized in: Horses