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TAMPA BAY DOWNS NOTEBOOK MARCH 5, 2013 by Bob Bauer Tampa racing fans had an unusual experience on Wednesday when action resumed at the Downs. For the first time in recent memory, favorites were shut out of the winner's circle for the entire 10-race card. Some players were rewarded with hefty payouts, most notably the late Pick 4. The sequence began with a pair of 13-1 shots in races 8 and 9. A 5-2 second choice took the 10th contest and another outsider scored in the nightcap at 16-1. The result was a windfall of $29,901.20 for a $2 ticket. Despite showers on Tuesday, the conditions were fast. The track television called the dirt fast, the official charts said wet-fast. Both were right; the going on the dirt was plenty quick and they were in agreement that the grass was good, with the moveable rail set at 12 feet, for the first three racing days. It would be reset at 22 feet for Saturday and Sunday. Speed was still doing well on the good turf. The first of a pair of routes was taken by a gate-to-wire leader, the second by a presser who got past the early pacesetter late. The leader lasted to anchor the exacta. It seems that the presser who gets first run on a leader coming off the turn is a tough one to catch lately. The lawn would be upgraded to firm after Wednesday. In both dirt sprints and routes, being up-close early was the path to success. Routes were more apt to be taken by the early speed and sprints went to close-up runners taking over on the turn or in the lane. Both courses appear to be playing in the same manner as seen throughout the meeting. The most profound change is that the chalk appears to have cooled off some days. Overall, favorites won at a 42 percent clip (21 for 50). But longshots had their moments. Winners yielded double-digit mutuels in six of 11 events on Saturday, including the featured $60,000 Challenger Stakes for four-year-olds and upward at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The post-time choice, PROSPECTIVE (Mailbu Moon), was sent off at 11-10 based on his impressive record at Tampa. Last season he won the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby and $100,000 Pasco Stakes and placed in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes. The chink could have been his 105-day hiatus from the races and having only a pair of works since late December. FLATTER THIS (Flatter) ran a huge one for Kathleen O'Connell after shipping in from Gulfstream and re-uniting with regular rider Antonio Gallardo. The six-year-old drew away by almost three lengths and gave his backers a $31.60 reward and started a $2 Pick 4 worth $66,104.40, more than double Wednesday's whopping payoff. The favorite checked in fourth, having the lead into the far turn and weakening in the stretch. It might be prudent to note that although shippers only scored seven times out of 50 races (14 percent) last week, they took five of 11 races on Saturday. Give shippers on the Festival Day undercard an extra good look. Next Saturday the Downs presents its seasonal highlight -- Festival Day. It promises to be a great day of racing and betting. The marquee event, the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby for three-year-olds with Triple Crown potential going 1 1/16 miles, will be supported by a pair of competitive contests. The Grade 3, $150,000 Hillsborough Stakes will send older fillies and mares about nine furlongs on the turf. The $100,000 Suncoast Stakes will showcase sophomore fillies at one mile and 40 yards on the main track. Beginning this Wednesday, racing will be held four days a week, with Monday, Tuesday and Thursday dark. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (2/27) 7TH -- MISS SWEETNESS (Belong to Me) was an impressive first-out winner at 13-1, going a flat mile with $50,000 maiden claimers on the grass. She chased a lone pacesetter for six furlongs and got up late after a long drive. It was noted that this three year-old miss appeared to still be full of herself after pulling up and going back toward the winner's circle. This one looks to have more where this came from. Thursday (2/28) 6TH -- QUITE THE FACE (Straight Faced) was in tight quarters early and forced to take-up in the clubhouse turn under Ron Allen Jr. when facing a good field (the first two finishers are Triple Crown nominees) of sophomores. This one appears to be more at home on the grass and merits consideration when he moves back to the weeds. 7TH -- SUMMER BREEZING (Langfuhr), a member of the powerful Christophe Clement stable, was bet down to 6-5 in a third-level allowance/$62,500 optional claimer on the lawn. This four-year-old colt had a rough time from the start. He was forced into the inner rail early and had to check when a rival came over from the inside. He recovered to make a bid into the stretch and weakened, but should go better next time with a clean trip. ADMIRAL PERRY (First Samurai) finished a decent second in the same event after being boxed on the far turn and showed some good late foot. This five-year-old horse now as a win and a place over the Tampa turf from a pair of tries and it shouldn't be long until another trip to the winner's circle for trainer Shug McGaughey. Friday (3/1) 3RD -- MISS DYNA LEE (Western Pride) broke slowly and was moving up between foes on the pace in the far turn when her saddle slipped. The four-year old filly checked in last, but deserves another chance with $16,000 claimers. Angel Serpa rode this last trip, and it's a bonus if he stays. 7TH -- CRIMSON SPIRE (Gone West), a recent maiden claiming turf graduate, raced up-close early and waited for racing room into the stretch and finished fourth with non-winners of two lifetime. She was made second-choice at 2-1 and should be a threat with that kind next time back. Saturday (3/2) 8TH -- THANK U PHILIPPE (Proud Accolade) was steadied behind rivals leaving the far turn and finished an okay fifth in the Challenger Stakes under Daniel Centeno. He had been sharp locally, a perfect two-for-two this season. His prep win before this was against a tough bunch in a $30,000 open allowance, and will be dangerous back in allowance company. Sunday (3/3) 5TH -- CHAMPAGNE MOOD (Concerto), a sophomore filly from the Roger Laurin barn, was bet down to slightly more than 5-2 in her local debut versus $12,500 maiden claimers going five furlongs. She had trouble breaking from the gate, bumping another runner, and then made up ground to get the show. She had similar problems in her only other start at Woodbine back in September. She could be a runner as she had several works from the gate in Canada last fall. Maybe some similar local instruction will help. 8TH -- PEP RALLY (Invisible Ink) showed an eye-catching turn of foot in a mile event with three-year-old $32,000 claimers. Trainer Bob Jeffries moved this gelding way up in company and stretched him out following his gate-to-wire graduation with $8,000 maiden claiming stock at six furlongs. In his latest outing, he was checked at the break and was last of eight runners. In a flash, he passed the entire field under Huber Villa-Gomez and had the lead at the half-mile call, but tired in the backstretch and was a well beaten seventh. This one appears to be sitting on a sprint win, and if he takes a slight drop so much the better.
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