Connections Feel Blessed with The Puma on Derby Trail

The Puma, the freshly minted Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner, wasn't the first choice. Nevertheless, he was the right choice for the same connections as 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage, and now this colt has put them back on the Triple Crown trail. "It's a blessing," said Ramiro Restrepo, who is the racing manager and bloodstock agent for The Puma's ownership group of OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing, on the day after he went from a maiden to the victor under Javier Castellano in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. In the process, The Puma earned 50 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to add to the six points he got for a third-place finish in the listed Sam Davis Feb. 7 and now he ranks second on the leaderboard. The Puma, bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn, is by multiple grade 1 winner Essential Quality, who was a two-time Eclipse Award winner but had yet to establish himself as a stallion. His dam is Eve of War by Declaration of War, and she had not produced a foal to race. When Hidden Brook consigned him at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale he did not meet his $95,000 reserve price so he was offered again at the 2025 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. The second time was the charm. "What happened was Hidden Brook had another colt in their consignment, and he was a son of Knicks Go, who sold for $585,000. He turned out to be Ewing, who broke his maiden real big and won the Saratoga Special (G2) in his second race. He was in the same consignment. Ewing was a horse that we had our eyes on," explained Restrepo. "We also liked this colt by Essential Quality. "When I went into the ring for Ewing, he went past what I had pegged for him, so we didn't get him. I remember going back to the consignment and said, 'Well. We missed out on the first one. Let's bring out the Essential Quality again.' I saw him a couple more times and said we couldn't get the first one but let's get this second one. I was kind of surprised he went for $150,000 but you had to be there and see what the market dictates." The Puma is trained by Gustavo Delgado Sr., who is ably assisted by his son, Gustavo Jr., and they are the owners known as OGMA Investments. The Delgados trained Mage, who was also ridden by Castellano. "This colt was a little immature and he was a little heavy, but he was a strong-style horse. He was a little chubby boy, but he caught our attention and gave everybody the good feels. Gustavo Junior really loved him and said he has characteristics of Mage," said Restrepo. Having a serious horse back on the Derby Trail is déjà vu for these connections. "Every year (since Mage) we've had a horse that we thought would be knocking on the door. We had a really nice maiden, Victory Avenue (bought in 2023 for $375,000). We thought he was going to be special in 2024. Unfortunately, he got hurt. Then we had Ferocious, who was a runner-up in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and then in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) and we thought he would be our Derby horse in 2025, and now here we are in 2026 with another Derby hopeful," Restrepo said. "We've been trying to knock on the door, and for a small outfit with myself as an agent and the boys (Gustavo Sr. and Jr.) as trainers we have a boutique barn. So being able to compete with the big boys year in and year out is a blessing. It's a testament to everybody's good work. It feels good to be here." The Puma was headed home by van to the Delgados' Gulfstream Park base March 8 and was no worse for wear from his come-from-behind victory over eight others chasing the Derby dream in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby. "It was a beautiful experience. He came back fine. So far, so good. Everything is a positive," Restrepo said. "Obviously, we have to let him have an easy week after the race and let Gustavo make the call what the next move is for the horse. It's always been on a race-by-race basis. He's now got enough points to go into the (Kentucky Derby). Whether Gustavo chooses to pick one of the big points races that are in April or train straight up to the race is going to be left to the horse and for him to decide."