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TAMPA BAY DOWNS NOTEBOOK MARCH 19, 2013 by Bob Bauer Racing resumed in Tampa on Wednesday in the afterglow of the success of Festival weekend. We had the good fortune to witness VERRAZANO (More Than Ready) dominate his fellow sophomores in the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby. The Todd Pletcher trainee should be one of the favorites in Louisville. There were slight showers on Tuesday. The dirt was fast and the turf was reported as good on the track television, but it was called firm in the official charts. There was agreement on the firm lawn for the rest of the week and the dirt remained fast. The turf played very kindly to early pace types. Two of Wednesday's trio of turf races were won with wire-to-wire trips. One was a route, the other a five-furlong dash. The third contest was another route taken by a presser who chased in second position and took over in the stretch when the speed wilted. The main track has been very consistent all season and overall it is a very fair racing surface. Early tactical speed to be near the pace is a big edge, but closers can win if there is a pace battle up front. It can pay to be aware of the pace match-up. The pace figures in the BRIS Ultimate PPs are helpful. Another good example of the value of pace figures can be found in Sunday's sixth race, a one-mile turf starter sllowance for older fillies and mares who had raced for a $16,000 tag or less. At first look, the Ultimate PPs revealed that six off the seven runners had faced at least one of her foes before. There were several back races that showed this group took turns beating one another. The bettors weren't sure as they chose a pair of lukewarm favorites, one at slightly more than 5-2 and the other just under 3-1. LAVALLE TWIST (Mongoose) had a number of factors working for her. First, she was a speedy, confirmed front runner who was sure to benefit from the key scratch of a rival who could have given her a tussle on the front end. Second, the BRIS figures showed she had an edge on the rest of the field. Her speed and pace figs for her last appearance on January 13 exceeded the par. Also, she was now at the top of the list for Early and Late Pace. Third, she was given a 57-day freshening with a couple workouts. Fourth, the turnback to a flat mile was what she was waiting for. The PPs suggest that 1 1/16 miles was is just a bit too far. Last, and maybe most important, was the switch to veteran rider Willie Martinez, who knows Tampa as well as anyone. The former leading rider handled the five-year old mare flawlessly, getting her clear to a four length lead by the half-mile call. He then gave her a breather and "played possum," the lead having dwindled to only a length by the six-furlong marker. Just as it appeared that the field would overtake her, Martinez got her running again and went on to get the money. She paid $11.60 as the fourth choice in the field of seven. A look at the trainer and jockey standings is in order at this stage of the meeting. Daniel Centeno, with 65 tallies has a daylight lead over Angel Serpa and Fernando De La Cruz, who share second place with 54 wins apiece. Next is red-hot Ron Allen Jr. who has won 47 times and moved into the fourth spot. Allen took four races on Saturday including the featured $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes. Scott Spieth has had a solid season so far and completes the top five with 34 victories. There are no real surprises in the conditioners contest. Serial champ Jamie Ness leads the pack having been to the winner's circle 38 times. Jorge Navarro leads a tight trio in the second flight with two dozen scores. Gerald Bennett and Kathleen O'Connell are close behind having 23 and 21 winners, respectively. Veteran horsemen Bernell Rhone and Dennis Ward are tied at 16. Rhone had the honor of being named the Trainer of the Month on Festival Day. The rate of winning favorites has finally cooled off and has actually turned the other way. The chalk took only 10 of 40 races last week (25 percent). HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (3/13) 5TH -- GULF COAST BREEZE (Stormy Atlantic) got in all kinds of trouble in her lifetime debut with $32,000 maiden claimers on the grass, yet managed to check in fourth in a field of 10 fillies. She ran greenly and was rank early, then steadied on the far turn in tight quarters and steadied again when over a rival's heels in the stretch, then went seven wide and came again on the far outside. Watch out for this one when she gets it figured out -- she might leave the maiden class soon. 9TH -- FLOWER CLASS, another daughter of Stormy Atlantic, also had a rough introduction to the Tampa turf. She was bumped at the break, was moving up on the backstretch and steadied into the turn and weakened. This was her first start in 202 days and only her second lifetime outing. She showed promise on the lawn at Calder last August and had the Downs' leading rider Daniel Centeno aboard. Improvement is expected. Friday (3/15) 9TH -- RITMO CRIOLLO (Chelsey Cat) was shuffled back between foes on the far turn and rallied late to get the show in his latest try with $8,000 non-winner-of-three lifetime claimers, at seven furlongs. This six-year-old gelding has had many good attempts in this condition, and still may surprise at a price. Worth using in serial wagers and other exotics as he's been close in his last half-dozen trips. 10TH -- PROTHOE (E Dubai), a four-year-old filly from the powerful Gerald Bennett barn, was bet down to about 3-1 when facing $16,000 claimers on the sod. She was stalking the leaders four wide into the stretch and was in tight in the late going. The last time she faced similar company on the Tampa turf, she was a handy winner. Expect a big effort next time back with this kind. Saturday (3/16) 4TH -- WESTERN PIRATE (Head West) stumbled badly after leaving the gate and had no chance in his first appearance this season with a field of $8,000 non-winners-of two in six months claiming sprinters. He had been away from the races for 129 days and probably needed a tightener. This veteran gelding was a consistent performer last year at Thistledown and is capable of better. 7TH -- NURSE DOLCE (Catienus) had a tough trip against $16,000 older filly-and-mare claimers on the lawn. She was steadied inside through the far turn, lacked racing room inside and went eight wide through the final furlong and closed some but too late. In her previous attempt against similar rivals, she took the lead late and just missed by a head. Can make amends if she stays trouble free. Sunday (3/17) 1ST -- FRANS'S IMAGE (Hal's Image) overcame trouble to get the place going seven panels with $8,000 maiden claimers. This sophomore filly gave a good account of herself, facing older fillies and mares. She was pressing from fourth early, got shuffled back on the far turn, but came running again to try the winner and finished second besting the rest. Overdue for graduation. 5TH -- BOASTFUL DANCER (Boastful) was bothered by a rival leaving the gate and never got running with $8,000 non-winners-of-two lifetime claimers. She has hit the board in each of her pair of attempts with similar. Could be a threat next time out. 8TH -- HOLLYWOOD QUEEN (Giant's Causeway), a first-timer for the formidable Christophe Clement outfit, had a rough debut on the weeds, facing a maiden special weights group going 1 1/16 miles. She was steadied and shuffled back early, moved to be in striking position but faded late. The bettors sent her off at slightly more than 5-2 and she might be ready for a better effort soon.
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