Tampa Bay Downs

Cathy Dwyer, the longtime Simulcast Director at Tampa Bay Downs and, most recently, the Director of Operations at Premier Turf Club (BetPTC.com), passed away this weekend in New Port Richey, Florida after a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer. Dwyer was 65. Born in Brooklyn, NY in 1954, Dwyer moved with her family to Chicago as a child. She later worked on the Chicago stock exchange. In 1983, she moved to the west coast of Florida with her family. In late 1990 she took a job in the marketing department...

Tampa Bay Downs is set to join the growing number of Thoroughbred tracks that are conducting racing without spectators during Wednesday's eight-race card, which begins at 12:40 p.m. The decision to limit attendance to horsemen, jockeys, essential staff, state-licensed officials and accredited media for the foreseeable future was made in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis. Tracks in Florida, California, New York, Kentucky, Arkansas and Texas are racing without patrons. It was also announced that the Mar. 28 G1 Dubai World Cup card will be run without spectators. Keeneland's spring...

With escalating fears over the spread of coronavirus, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort has decided to run all races this weekend without on-site spectators, it was announced late Thursday evening. Saturday's card is headed by the $1-million GII Rebel S. for 3-year-olds. Oaklawn President Louis Cella said, "We represent the sport of kings. As such, we will act in a similar fashion to other sports organizations throughout the country. The health and safety of our fans, horsemen, and team members have always been and will continue to be our top priorities."...

During his baseball career, Victor Martinez was known for being cool under pressure and good in the clutch. It appears that he has a horse with the same attributes. It looks like the presence of a former Major League All-Star is going to spice up this year's GI Kentucky Derby. Martinez, who debuted in the majors in 2002 with the Cleveland Indians, played a season-and-a-half for the Boston Red Sox, and retired after playing for the Detroit Tigers in 2018, is the owner of GII Tampa Bay Derby winner King...

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. Results - Country Grammer ran well enough last week to sneak into my Kentucky Derby rankings, but not well enough to win any points, so I'm looking to bust out...

Moving from strength to strength since kicking off his career last October, Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) has been tabbed the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday's GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby. A winner on the turf in his first two starts last season, including the Pulpit S. at Gulfstream Park Nov. 30, the gelding finished a credible third in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man S. and later in the month, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing bought a majority stake in the Triple Crown prospect, joining owners Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables...

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Alw (NW1X)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-14, 3yo, 1m 40y, 1:38.88, ft. GOUVERNEUR MORRIS (c, 3, Constitution--Addison Run {SP}, by Unbridled's Song) had to overcome a few tense moments, but ultimately kicked off his sophomore season successfully Friday afternoon at Tampa. A nine-length debut winner sprinting in the Saratoga slop Sept. 2, the grey was second as the favorite behind a dominant performance from Maxfield (Street Sense) and ahead of last month's GIII Lecomte S. winner Enforceable (Tapit). His connections opted to skip a trip to the Breeders'...

Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) wasn't an expensive yearling, but he announced his Classic aspirations impressively last weekend in an early Gl Kentucky Derby prep. He won the 1 1/16-mile Glll Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, but sold for only $6,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling sale. He was resold by New Hope AB LLC for $20,000 at the OBS April sale as a 2-year-old to trainer Patrick Biancone, who knows a quality staying pedigree when he sees one. Of course, Biancone trained the great All...

5th-Tampa Bay Downs, $20,000, Msw, 2-12, 3yo, 1mT, 1:36.47, fm. DOMESTIC SPENDING (GB) (g, 3, Kingman {GB}--Urban Castle {SW-Eng}, by Street Cry {Ire}) firmed into odds-on favoritism in the final minutes of wagering before easing out to a relatively generous even-money and turned in a promising career debut. Ridden for some gate speed by Antonio Gallardo, the 300,000gns Tattersalls October graduate settled in the second flight of horses about four away from the rail down the backstretch. Asked to loop horses four deep at the quarter pole, Domestic Spending came...

With all eyes on unbeaten Independence Hall (Constitution) in Saturday's GIII Sam F. Davis S., Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) came rolling down the Tampa Bay stretch to upset the 3-5 favorite by a widening 2 1/2 lengths. It was 11 1/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Ajaaweed (Curlin). Sole Volante, campaigned in partnership by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone and Limelight Stables Corp., won his first two starts on grass, including an impressive come-from-behind win in the Pulpit S. at Gulfstream Nov. 30. He ran on nicely to finish third...

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Last Week - Decent start in week one, tabbing two of three winners--Max Player (+$905) and Thousand Words (+$290). Unfortunately, the most impressive winner of the trio by far--Tiz the Law in the Holy Bull--was the...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency EXPENSIVE SPEIGHTSTOWN DEBUTS AT TAMPA 4th-TAM, $27K, Msw, 3yo, 1m 40yds, 1:46p.m. WinStar and China Horse Club signed the $750,000 ticket on EXTRAORDINARY (Speightstown) at Keeneland September and breeder Stonestreet Stables stayed in as a partner on the colt, who debuts in this spot for Rodolphe Brisset. The chestnut is out of four-time graded winner and MGISP millionaire Fiftyshadesofhay (Pulpit), a $1.3-million purchase by Stonestreet at the 2014 KEENOV sale. Let's Go Stable and Repole Stables also send out a Stonestreet homebred for his career...