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TAMPA BAY DOWNS NOTEBOOK MAY 7, 2013 by Bob Bauer As baseball legend and philosopher Yogi Berra has told us, "it ain't over until it's over." This applies to the Tampa Bay Downs 2012-13 live racing season, which was scheduled to end Sunday. Racing has stopped for now, but it's not over. There is no more live racing until June 30 when an eight-race program will officially end the Oldsmar, Florida, oval's 87th season. The next day, July 1, will feature a similar card to kick off the 2013-14 meeting. Then live racing will be suspended until early December and the season will run throughout the winter and spring, as it has for decades. If you think all this sounds a little bit unusual and confusing, you surely aren't alone. This two day event, called "Summer Racing at the Downs," will satisfy some Florida state regulations concerning Tampa Bay Downs being classified as a year-round facility. The Florida fiscal year ends on June 30, and the next one begins on July 1. 12:30 p.m. (EDT) post times are scheduled for this pair of special racing days. Those of us who just can't get enough Tampa racing will have a little taste to get through the summer. Watch for some of your favorite runners to come back fresh. Although the meeting is not over yet, the trainer's and jockey's races are. In both cases, the pacesetters have built up insurmountable leads and won't be caught. Perennial training champ Jamie Ness has won or tied for the conditioner's title in seven consecutive seasons, an astounding record. He dead heated with Kathleen O'Connell in 2010 and with Gerald Bennett in 2011. Ness was America's top trainer in 2012 as well as setting an all-time record at the Downs with 79 winners. This season, he enjoys a daylight lead with 46 victories and has no worries about being caught at the wire. Next best is Jorge Navarro with 33, narrowly besting Kathleen O'Connell and Gerald Bennett who have 32 and 31 wins, respectively. Standout jockey Daniel Centeno has earned his fifth rider's title and appears to be at the top of his game. Centeno garnered 75 tallies this season and has safe margin of fifteen winners over his nearest rival, Fernando De La Cruz. Ron Allen Jr. is in third place having 57, in a meeting shortened by serious injuries. Angel Serpa had a solid season with 56 scores, three more than Daniel Coa who went to the winner's circle 53 times. Favorites went well last week taking 13 of 31 events (42 percent). Keep an eye out for Tampa horses shipping to northern tracks. It seems that many do well shipping south to north. Tampa horses have run well in past seasons at Belmont, Suffolk Downs, Canterbury, Finger Lakes, Arlington Park and others. Some horsemen believe that a few races over the deep Tampa track leave their runners with a conditioning edge that they take with them to the next venue. Good luck! HORSES TO WATCH Friday (5/3) 2ND -- DONOVAN'S REEF (Rock Hard Ten) was sent off as the 5-2 favorite in a $16,000 maiden claimer that was taken off the lawn. The sophomore gelding didn't get the smoothest trip, getting shuffled back in the far turn, moving four wide in the stretch drive and getting pushed out by a rival en route to finishing fourth. Has been in the money in three of four lifetime attempts, and could graduate soon. 9TH -- NIGHTFURY (Kitalpha) hesitated at the break in her lifetime debut sprinting with $16,000 maiden claiming fillies. The three-year-old miss lost all chance and could improve next time out. She had some backing in the win pool, being 15-1 on the morning line but going off at about 7-1. Saturday (5/4) 1ST -- ROMAN LEGEND (Roman Ruler) was impeded in the early going and stopped in a roughly-run sprint with $8,000 nonwinners-of-two. Fits with this kind and was the second favorite in the betting, so improvement would be no surprise. 10TH -- HOLY MARIA'S STORM (Gaff), a recent $8,000 maiden claiming graduate, got a rough reception in her first try with $25,000 nonwinners-of-two. The three-year-old filly was moving with the leader on the first turn of a route taken off the sod, was forced to steady over that one's heels and faded to fifth of a half-dozen runners. Seems to be in good form now. Sunday (5/5) 6TH -- IVOR DANCER (Put It Back) might be coming around for new trainer Arthur Agostini. This five-year-old has gotten the show dough in his last pair of races with $8,000 maiden claimers. Jockey Marcello Cardoso has been aboard for both attempts and may be a factor in his improvement (the dark bay had lost a half-dozen previous outings by double-digit margins). He lacked racing room and was boxed for a half, but made up ground in the stretch to check in third. Could upset the right field. 10TH -- MEET GEORGEANNA (Hoopsworld) made a good four-wide move coming out of the far turn, and wound up third while gaining on the top two late. This was her third (and best) attempt with $8,000 conditioned claimers. She has shown good late pace ability and is at her best around two turns. Might run down dueling leaders.
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