Tampa Bay Downs
At almost no point during the opening 6 1/2 furlongs of Saturday's GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby did things look particularly promising for Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable's heavily favored Tapit Trice (Tapit). But in a stretch rally befitting his status as a 'TDN Rising Star', the $1.3-million Keeneland September graduate went through his gears and whistled home to--somewhat unbelievably--post an open-lengths victory over Classic Car Wash (Noble Bird) and Classic Legacy (Into Mischief), the third- and fourth-place finishers, respectively, in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. four...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency 9th-TAM, $27K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 4:40 p.m. A homebred for Florida's Bridlewood Farm, JUSTDOITALREADY (Justify) debuts Sunday for trainer Eoin Harty. The dark bay filly, a daughter of $2,000,000 2014 Fasig-Tipton November Sale purchase Concinnous, is a half-sister to MGISW Iotapa (Afleet Alex), herself a $2.8m pick up by China Horse Club out of the 2014 Keeneland November Sale. Concinnous has also produced SW & GSP Saintly Joan (Northern Afleet). Justdoitalready fired a bullet two works back (five furlongs in 1:02) and jockey Jesus...
Trainer Todd Pletcher has unsaddled the winner of the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby a record five times--no one else has more than two to their credit--and he stands a fair chance to make it a half-dozen Saturday afternoon when he sends out the two favorites on the morning line. Pegged at odds of 8-5 is Whisper Hill Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), who will attempt to provide his sire with a fourth winner of the race since in its last 10 runnings (Ring Weekend, 2014; the...
It continues to be a strange year on the road to the GI Kentucky Oaks. It's been a division where no one seemed ready to step to the front and become a clear leader of the group. That, sort of, changed Sunday in the GIII Santa Ysabel S. Sunday at Santa Anita. Faiza (Girvin) stayed undefeated in four starts with a 2 1/4-length win and, under normal circumstances, would have gone to No. 1 on this list. But the filly, who is trained by Bob Baffert and owned by Michael...
The Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance will be featured at Tampa Bay Downs with a named race on the Tampa Bay Derby undercard Saturday, March 11. Following the running of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Race, a presentation will be made to the winning connections including a branded blanket and swag bag. Tampa Bay Downs will feature and promote accredited aftercare awareness throughout the race day and race meet. As part of Tampa Bay Down's support, a VIP experience has been donated to the winners of the January 2023 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance "Off...
6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $24,000, Msw, 2-19, 3yo, 1mT, 1:36.33, fm, 1 1/4 lengths. SILVER PEAK (c, 3, Quality Road--Dreamologist {GSW, $203,710}, by Tapit) debuted over the synthetic track at Woodbine Nov. 13 and got up to be second when traveling 6 1/2 furlongs. Given the stretch out and the change of surface Sunday, the gray jumped from the blocks as the narrow 7-5 second choice and dove to the front to lead narrowly into the first turn. Showing the way through opening fractions of :23.63 and :48.85, Silver Peak held...
In this new semi-weekly series, the TDN takes a look at the notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column, Feb. 11-17, is highlighted by the victory of Manhattan Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) in the Sweet Life S. at Santa Anita Park on Feb. 11. No Concrete Fears For Smart Filly The best performance of the week was Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Manhattan Jungle adding to her resume in the Sweet Life S. going down the hill at Santa Anita. A three-quarter length winner for trainer...
6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $25,500, (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-12, 3yo, 1m 40y, 1:40.78, ft, 7 3/4 lengths. KINGSBARNS (c, 3, Uncle Mo--Lady Tapit {GSP}, by Tapit) made his first start against winners a successful one, dominating his rivals to win by 7 1/4 lengths as the public's 2-5 betting favorite. After scoring in his debut by 1 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream Park a month ago, the $800,000 Fasig-Tipton March Select 2-Year-Old in Training purchase was shipped a few miles north for a first start in allowance company, a choice that proved...
As the field turned for home in Saturday's Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs, Dreaming of Snow (Jess's Dream), trained by Gerald Bennett, had the lead, but it sure looked like she'd never hold on. It wasn't just that she was 38-1 and had been pressed most of the way, it was who was chasing her, monsters from the stables of super trainers Mark Casse and Todd Pletcher in Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) and Julia Shining (Curlin). Could a horse from the barn of a 78-year-old claiming trainer who had...
Asked to negotiate two turns for the first time from a high draw, Centennial Farms' Litigate (Blame) sustained a long, wide run and dug in gamely to stake his claims on this year's Triple Crown trail with a victory in Saturday's GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Groveland (Street Sense) made good progress up the rail to be second ahead of Classic Car Wash (Noble Bird) in third. Bobbling ever so slightly as a steady rain began to fall across the Oldsmar oval, the $370,000 Keeneland September...
Since breaking her maiden at Colonial Downs last September, Dreaming of Snow has been a Florida girl, contesting three straight at Tampa Bay Downs including an 8 1/2-length win against optional claimers two starts back Dec. 17. Fourth in the Gasparilla S. Jan. 14 behind a pair ofrivals she faced Saturday, the $60,000 OBS March grad was let go as an unconvincing 38-1 shot against newly crowned Eclipse champion Wonder Wheel and GII Demoiselle S. winner Julia Shining. Undeterred by the falling rain and hustled to the front after brief...
5th-Tampa Bay Downs, $25,000, Msw, 2-11, 3yo, f, 6f, 1:10.99, ft, head. TITA MIMOSA (IRE) (f, 3, Uncle Mo--Needmore Flattery {MSW, $732,103}, by Flatter), the half-sister to Taiba (Gun Runner), MGISW, $1,956,200, broke as the 7-2 second choice in her afternoon bow and immediately charged to the front outside of Sweet Melady (Maclean's Music) to take a narrow advantage. Dueling up the backstretch with 24-1 shot Rosario's Prayer (Sky Kingdom), Tita Mimosa continued to fight that rival around the turn and into the lane. The pair took turns on the...