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TAMPA BAY DOWNS NOTEBOOK APRIL 23, 2013 by Bob Bauer We are down to the last seven racing days. This week will follow the normal Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule. The next and final week will have racing Friday, Saturday (Kentucky Derby Day) and Sunday. The Downs will wrap up another season on May 5 with Fan Appreciation Day, which features free admission, parking and discounts on many food and beverage items. Racing conditions were ideal once again, fast and firm all week. The moveable rail on the turf course was set at 12 feet. Both surfaces continue to play fairly, as has been the case all season long. Winners can come from anywhere in the race, depending on the pace set-up. Loose-on-lead types are always dangerous. Horseplayers should be extra careful handicapping these last few cards at Tampa. Many new runners may be entered at this late stage and some of them will score. Our job is to try and get our money on them. Be sure to evaluate the entire situation, when considering invaders and freshened runners. Pay attention to class placement, distance and jockey. A series of works over the vacation period is always a plus. The more positive factors working for a horse, the better his chances. One of the best combinations may be the "freshened up and dropped down" angle. Quite often we see fresh and fit runners ship into easier conditions and score. Friday's nightcap went to LEFT FOOT SLEWIE (Slew City Slew) who had been away from the races since early December at Penn National. The five-year-old gelding went off at 8-1 and chased down the pacesetter, in his first attempt with non-winners of three lifetime claimers. TWO WONDERS (Three Wonders) had been rested since racing at Woodbine last November. The six-year-old mare was a prompt 5-2 favorite for the powerful Gerald Bennett outfit. It is apparent in recent years that freshened horses can win at first asking and don't always necessarily "need a race." Favorites went 13-for-39 races this past week, a 33 percent clip. The rate of winning chalk has moderated since earlier this season, when it was around 40 percent some weeks. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (4-17) 5TH -- INGRID LOUISIANA (Lemon Drop Kid) got the show dough in her first attempt with $50,000 claiming fillies on the turf. The sophomore miss had been away from competition for 137 days, but had been working well for her return. She moved five wide through the far turn with the winner and finished well. May have needed this race and could beat this kind next time. 9TH -- CHANNEL QUEST (English Channel), a Gulfstream invader who had been out of action since early December, was rank and raced greenly while wearing blinkers for the first time in his comeback against $25,000 non-winners-of-three, on the turf. This one moved to the barn of 20 percent trainer Yvon Belsoeur after being claimed in September and might surprise a similar group on the sod. Friday (4-19) 7TH -- TIPPIE TAP (Pleasant Tap) appears to be in top form for conditioner Leigh Delacour, overcoming trouble to score handily with first-level-allowance foes by more than three lengths after a 221-day hiatus. The turf-loving filly should be ready for another strong effort soon. 8TH -- STAY AT HOME MOM (Sahm) dwelt at the gate and had no chance in her lifetime debut with $8,000 claimers. Could improve with an alert start. Worth using in exotics at a price. Saturday (4-20) 2ND -- PERFECT PRICE (Perfect Soul), a rare six-year-old gelding making his first lifetime start, got some support from the bettors and went to the gate at 8-1 versus $16,000 maiden claimers. It seems he had the jitters and was fractious at the gate and missed the break, then trailed while racing greenly. There is room for improvement here and he might surprise the right group. 5TH -- AMBER ROAD (Empire Maker) has endured some rough going in his last pair of trips with $8,000 maiden claiming runners. Two races back, the four-year-old gelding was checked and shuffled back on the first turn, but made a good recovery to get the place in a one mile and 40-yard contest. In his latest effort, he was bumped by a rival and roughed at the start going a mile on the lawn. A trouble-free outing might be all this Greg Griffith trainee needs. 8TH -- PACK A PUNCH (Marciano), a lightly raced Gulfstream shipper, bobbled at the break but was able to rally and finished fourth in his first appearance with local maiden special weight sprinters. He was claimed by Reid Nagle after a trio of turf attempts, and it appears he has some dirt ability also. Should be considered dangerous if entered back before closing day. Sunday (4/21) 1ST -- CHILLIN DYLAN (Moongoose), last seen at Suffolk Downs back in October, finished third with $5,000 non-winners of two in six months. Trainer Bobby Raymond had him ready to run and he might have placed higher if not for some traffic woes. The six-year old gelding was steadied in the early going and again on the far turn, then moved five wide and only missing all the money by 1 1/2 lengths. Appears to be fresh and fit now. 6TH -- MR. WATANABE TOO (Mr. Sekiguchi) is another who has been hampered by rough going in his last pair of races on the local lawn with $32,000 claimers. He came into this latest test off a seven-week freshening and seems to be sharp now, chasing the early leaders and ending up in third place despite being bothered by a rival on the far turn. The foul claim by rider Ademar Santos was disallowed. Might romp if dropped to $16,000 company.
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