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Super Saver leads field of seven in Tampa Bay Derby
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| Super Saver was last seen taking the Kentucky Jockey Club
(Wendy Uzelac/EquiSport Photos) |
Having already successfully raided the three-year-old stakes pots at Tampa
Bay Downs this season when Rule (Roman Ruler) took the Sam F. Davis S. (G3) in
February, trainer Todd Pletcher will attempt to do it one more time on Saturday
in the $300,000
Tampa
Bay Derby (G3). This time, Pletcher's representative is SUPER SAVER (Maria's
Mon), who will be making his first start since an authoritative five-length
score in the Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) at Churchill Downs in November. The 1
1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby, the highlight of the meet, anchors a solid 12-race
program which also features three other stakes, two of them graded.
Like his stablemate Rule, Super Saver can usually be found on the front end
in his races. That's where he was early on in the Champagne S. (G1), his stakes
debut, but the quick pace took its toll and the WinStar homebred retreated to
fourth, two lengths behind Homeboykris (Roman Ruler). In the Kentucky Jockey
Club, his two-turn debut, Super Saver set a more relaxed pace than he had in the
Champagne. When challenged turning for home, jockey Calvin Borel let out a notch
and Super Saver exploded to win in a runaway.
Borel, who is occupied with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia
d'Oro) at Fair Grounds on Saturday, will be replaced on Super Saver in the Tampa
Bay Derby by Ramon Dominguez, who guided the bay to his seven-length maiden win
at Belmont in September.
Another Palm Meadows-based runner, ODYSSEUS (Malibu Moon), figures to attract
plenty of support in his stakes debut. Runner-up in his Aqueduct debut on
Halloween, the Tom Albertrani pupil graduated at Gulfstream over seven furlongs
in January then returned last month to take an entry-level allowance by 15
lengths over this course and distance. He should be well-positioned throughout
under Rajiv Maragh, who has guided him in all three starts.
The second- and third-place finishers from the Sam Davis, SCHOOLYARD DREAMS
(Stephen Got Even) and UPTOWNCHARLYBROWN (Limehouse), both merit respect.
Schoolyard Dreams, who donned blinkers for the Davis, was a clear second at 9-1
in the Davis and has been working lights out for this return engagement.
Uptowncharlybrown, who entered the Davis undefeated after two dominant scores
including the Pasco S., never threatened for the win in his two-turn debut but
did turn in a solid rally in the final furlong to claim the show. He will add
blinkers for the Tampa Bay Derby and should improve in his second route
appearance.
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GLEAM OF HOPE (City Zip), who notched the off-the-turf Cradle S. on Labor
Day, has run well everywhere except Churchill Downs and is a threat for a minor
placing. TUVIA'S FORCE (Mineshaft), trained by Nick Zito, was second in Super
Saver's maiden win and remains eligible for a first-level allowance after
running third in his seasonal bow. SLAMMY BOY (Grand Slam), a turf runner,
appears too slow on paper to pull off the upset.
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| She Be Wild will have a new
rider up for the Florida Oaks
(Benoit Photos) |
SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild), last year's juvenile filly champion, will be the
second Eclipse Award from 2009 to compete at Tampa this meet when she meets nine
others in the $175,000
Florida
Oaks (G3) at 1 1/16 miles. The maiden claiming graduate, whose success in
the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3) was
enough to garner divisional honors, is seeking her first win on dirt following a
wide-trip fifth in the Forward Gal S. (G2) at Gulfstream on January 31.
Those looking to bet against the Wayne Catalano trainee have plenty of
choices. DIVA DELITE (Repent), the iron lady of the field with 14 starts already
on her record, enters off back-to-back wins in the Suncoast S. and Gasparilla
S., the two main local preps for the Florida Oaks. She's a seven-time winner
including her last four in succession. IMAGINARY SAINT (Saint Liam), third to
Diva Delite in the Suncoast, has some upside and will be representing the potent
Pletcher/Dominguez duo.
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CUFF ME (Officer) won her first three races in New York, including an
overnight stakes, before facing defeat as the even-money favorite in the January
9 Old Hat S. (G3). The Florida Oaks marks her first try beyond six furlongs, but
she might last awhile if handled judiciously by Kent Desormeaux. A new arrival
on the stakes scene, TESORO DE AMOR (Medaglia d'Oro), woke up in her dirt debut
last time at Gulfstream, winning by nearly a length against maiden foes going 1
1/8 miles.
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| Mushka (outside) was awarded
the Spinster victory
(EquiSport Photos) |
The $150,000
Hillsborough S. (G3) for fillies and mares at about 1 1/8 miles on the turf
attracted a marquee name in MUSHKA (Empire Maker), the Spinster S. (G1) winner
and Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) runner-up. The Bill Mott-trained mare was
only fifth in the Santa Maria H. (G2) in her seasonal debut, and has shipped
east so as to avoid the likes of dual champion Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) on
the Pro-Ride again. Mushka had raced primarily on turf before last fall, most
recently taking the Glens Falls H. (G3) over Saratoga's inner turf.
TOTTIE (GB) (Fantastic Light), who remained unbeaten in the U.S. when taking
the Suwannee River S. (G3) last out, should pose a serious threat to Mushka from
slightly off the pace. Other logical threats invading from South Florida are
COULEE (Vicar), SWEET AND FLAWLESS (Unbridled's Song), PHOLA (Johannesburg) and
the often-scratched LADY SHAKESPEARE (Theatrical [Ire]).
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Locally-based threats include the Endeavour S. (G3) runner-up CURE FOR SALE
(Arg) (Not for Sale), AINAMAA (Lemon Drop Kid), and Grade 2 winner SATANS QUICK
CHICK (Sky Mesa), who would look more likely on either dirt or synthetic.
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