BY TAMMY A. GANTT

If you are not at the Kentucky Derby, the next best thing is a Derby-themed event in the Horse Capital of the World®. With the 150th running of the Run for the Roses, there are even more events to choose from locally and we’ve broken them down by type to make it easier to find a perfect fit.

BY SARAH WELK BAYNUM

Tamara Alvarado had horses growing up in Miami, the Thoroughbred industry was foreign to her until she was in her twenties. 

CATALYTIC

Owned by Ocala residents Tami Bobo, George Isaacs and Julie Davies and a graduate of Davies early training, Catalytic was back on the track Tuesday at the 7:30 a.m. time reserved for Oaks and Derby horses following a harrow break.

With regular exercise rider Olaf Hernandez aboard, trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. had the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) runner-up jog a mile over a track rated as good after overnight rains in the Louisville area. He’s hopeful that lightly tested Catalytic continues to improve in the Derby. 

“On paper, it’s hard to see that he can win,” Joseph said. “But in racing, you have to have a hope and a dream. You need a perfect setup. He’s a horse who’s only had three starts, so you have to hope that there’s improvement to come. How much improvement, we don’t know.”

And the Derby will present an opportunity to show how much the $125,000 yearling purchase has come along.

“This is the most eyes we ever get,” Joseph said. “There’s pressure on the vets, pressure on the trainers, everyone wants everything to be perfect. That’s our wish, that we have a perfect week. Everyone’s watching, even those who don’t watch racing. It’s the biggest race in America, it’s America’s race and the attention it gets for two minutes is second to none.”

CATCHING FREEDOM

A graduate of Barry Berkelhammer’s early training program at Abracadabra Farm in Ocala, Fla., Catching Freedom galloped at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday for trainer Brad Cox and schooled in the paddock with stablemate Just a Touch.

FIONA'S MAGIC

A Florida home-bred for Marilyn Campbell’s Stonehedge LLC and a graduate of the early training at her Stonehedge Farm South in Williston, Fla., Fiona’s Magic galloped a mile-and-three-eighths under Alejandro Mariano for trainer Michael Yates at 9:30 a.m.

With rain chances in the long-range forecast at better than 50% for Friday, Yates was asked how an off track would affect his filly, who finished second in her debut on a track listed as good.

“I hate to run on an off track with any of my horses,” Yates said. “Today she looked good out there [over a track rated as ‘good’].”

LESLIE'S ROSE

Owned by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm in Ocala, Fla., where she also received her early education, Leslie’s Rose galloped a mile-and-a-quarter during the 7:30-7:45 a.m. training session for horses eyeing the Kentucky Derby or the Kentucky Oaks. Regular exercise rider Joel Osorio was aboard.