Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride (Arg)) garners plenty of respect, but the connections of 11 other 3-year-olds want to make him earn the Grade II Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby trophy.

With the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve eight weeks away, time is running short for trainers entertaining visions of red roses and mint juleps. Saturday’s Grade II, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby will bring together 12 3-year-olds, most with much to prove if they are to continue to advance toward a date with destiny on May 1.

Woodbine stakes winner Helium (Ironicus), who won the Display Stakes on Oct. 18 in his second career start for D J Stable and trainer Mark Casse, is a 6 to 1 chance in the Tampa Bay Derby.

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