THE PUMA (Outside) & FURTHER ADO (Inside) in the Tampa Bay Derby 2026 - Photo: Gonzalo Anteliz Jr - Agentes 305
Agentes 305 Preview, Highlights & Analysis
Pennsylvania Derby (G1) — $1 Million
Race 14 | 1 1/8 miles | 3-year-olds | 5:48 p.m. ET
This is a fascinating Pennsylvania Derby because there isn’t a single dominant storyline. Further Ado brings the strongest spring résumé, The Puma has repeatedly knocked on the Grade 1 door, Iron Honor owns high-level form, and horses such as Our Moneyman, Zihnal and Sassmaster give the race considerable depth.
⭐ Further Ado: The redemption race
#7 Further Ado (2-1 ML) enters as the morning-line favorite for Brad Cox with Flavien Prat taking the mount.
His best performance remains the dominant Blue Grass Stakes (G1) victory at Keeneland. He later rebounded from an 11th-place Kentucky Derby finish by winning the Matt Winn (G3), but disappointed again as the favorite when fifth in the Haskell over a sloppy Monmouth surface.
That makes today particularly important.
The question isn’t whether Further Ado possesses Grade 1 ability—he has already demonstrated that. It’s whether he can reproduce his best form consistently away from Keeneland.
From a trip perspective, he may be well positioned. Further Ado doesn’t require the lead, which could allow Prat to sit just behind the early speed before asking him to make his move approaching the far turn.
🔥 The Puma vs. Further Ado — Round 3
One of our favorite storylines at Agentes 305 is the renewed rivalry between #6 The Puma (4-1) and Further Ado.
And here’s the interesting part:
The Puma has finished ahead of Further Ado in both of their previous meetings.
He defeated him in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), then finished fourth in the Haskell while Further Ado was fifth. The Puma also came within a nose of winning the Florida Derby (G1) before a setback forced his Kentucky Derby scratch. He returned to finish fourth in both the Haskell and Travers.
Today trainer Gustavo Delgado adds blinkers, which could prove significant.
The Puma has sometimes left himself with considerable work to do. If the equipment change allows Javier Castellano to establish a more tactical position, he could be much closer when the serious running begins.
For a horse that has repeatedly competed well at the Grade 1 level without winning one, today represents another major opportunity.
👀 Iron Honor could be sitting on a big race
Don’t overlook #2 Iron Honor (5-1).
The Chad Brown trainee won the Gotham (G3) and finished second in the Preakness before continuing to run competitively in graded company.
Most interestingly, the blinkers return today. Iron Honor wore them earlier in his career—including for his Gotham victory—before Brown removed them ahead of the Preakness.
If the equipment sharpens his tactical speed, Jose Ortiz could put him into the race early without necessarily fighting for the lead.
💰 Our Moneyman is the intriguing alternative
#3 Our Moneyman (8-1) may be one of the most interesting horses in the entire field.
He was second to Further Ado in the Matt Winn and then missed by only a neck in the Indiana Derby despite a problematic trip. That form has subsequently become much stronger because Indiana Derby winner Leading Change returned to win the Travers (G1).
Our Moneyman was subsequently purchased for $2 million and makes his first start for Saudi-based KAS Stables while remaining with trainer Bret Calhoun.
Manny Franco gets the mount.
The unknown is 1 1/8 miles. But if he handles the additional distance, his recent form suggests he belongs with this group.
🚨 The improving horse: Sassmaster
The wild card is #9 Sassmaster (10-1).
Todd Pletcher’s Curlin colt is much less accomplished than the established Grade 1 runners—but he may also have considerably more upside.
He broke his maiden at Churchill in June and then won at today’s 1 1/8-mile distance at Saratoga.
He has to make a significant class jump.
But lightly raced 3-year-olds can improve rapidly at this stage of the season, making him an interesting horse to watch if the more established contenders fail to reproduce their best.
🎯 Agentes 305 Race Analysis
The first quarter-mile may determine a lot.
Further Ado and The Puma both appear capable of securing excellent stalking positions, while the blinkers could put The Puma and Iron Honor closer than usual.
That means the key may not be who gets the lead—but who gets the first clean run at the leaders entering the far turn.
Our main contenders to watch are Further Ado, The Puma, Iron Honor and Our Moneyman, with Sassmaster as the improving wildcard.
One additional storyline matters: Further Ado and The Puma have unfinished business. Their third meeting comes with $1 million and a Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on the line.
The Pennsylvania Derby is the final Grade 1 dirt route of the season restricted to 3-year-olds, giving horses such as Further Ado, The Puma and Iron Honor one more opportunity to strengthen their late-season résumé.
About The Author
