Watch Me Go go gets Tampa Bay Derby win

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Oldsmar, FL (Sports Network) - Watch Me Go outlasted Crimson Knight to capture Saturday's $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. The time for the 1 1/16-miles was 1:44.25 on a fast track.

Scratched from the race was last year's champion two-year-old colt Uncle Mo, who instead remained at Gulfstream Park and won the Timely Writer Stakes in his 2011 debut.

The nine horse field was led by 1-2 favorite Brethren, who last month won Tampa Bay's Sam F. Davis Stakes. Watch Me Go was 43-1 and Crimson Knight was the longest shot on the board at 86-1.

Ridden by Ronnie Allen, Jr., Crimson Knight was first out of the gate. Brethren quickly took the lead entering the clubhouse turn from the outside.

Around the first turn, Free Entry took the lead followed by Moonhanger, Brethren and Crimson Knight. Up the backstretch, Brethren and jockey Ramon Dominguez set the pace. Running second was Moonhanger, followed by Crimson Knight and Free Entry.

Brethren was joined on the turn for home by Crimson Knight with Watch Me Go gaining from the outside. The three horses were across the track coming into the stretch.

At the top of the stretch, Brethren was on the inside with Crimson Knight and Watch Me Go to the favorite's outside. With just over 100 yards to run, Brethren was unable to keep pace and fell back.

Watch Me Go, ridden by Luis Garcia, and Crimson Knight battled down the stretch to the wire. Just before the finish, Watch Me Go edged in front and posted a neck victory over Crimson Knight.

Brethren was able to hold on for third followed by Beamer, Economic Summit, Free Entry, Too Experience, Striding Ahead and Moonhanger.

Watch Me Go paid $89.40, $28.80 and $8.80. Crimson Knight returned $50.00 and $11.80, and Brethren paid $2.10 to show.

Watch Me Go is owned by Gilbert G. Campbell and trained by Kathleen O'Connell. The three-year-old colt was coming off a third-place finish to Brethren in last month's Davis Stakes. The Tampa Bay Derby was his first stakes win and worth $210,000.

Watch Me Go has won four of nine career starts for $311,345.

Last year's Run for the Roses winner Super Saver was third in the 2010 Tampa Bay Derby and in 2007 Street Sense won the race prior to claiming the Kentucky Derby.