Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner The Puma will next compete in the G1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18, trainer Gustavo Delgado announced on X (formerly Twitter).
The son of Essential Quality was a race-day scratch from the Kentucky Derby on May 2 with a minor skin infection and was placed on the Kentucky vet’s list. Delgado shared a video of The Puma departing Churchill Downs on May 13 for Gulfstream Park.
The chestnut colt debuted in January at Gulfstream, where he was beaten by eventual Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher Chief Wallabee. He was then third to Kentucky Derby runner-up Renegade in the Sam F. Davis Stakes before capturing the G3 Tampa Bay Derby by three-quarters of a length. In his final prep for the first Saturday in May, The Puma was second by a nose in the G1 Florida Derby.
Javier Castellano was aboard in all four starts.
The Puma is co-owned by OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, High Step Racing, TCC Stables, and Bruce Zoldan.
Delgado’s 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage – also co-owned by his OGMA Investments – finished second in the G1 Haskell after contesting the G1 Preakness.
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
