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TAMPA BAY DOWNS NOTEBOOK JANUARY 29, 2013 by Bob Bauer Wednesday kicked off the first of six weeks of five-day racing. Monday and Tuesday are dark. Conditions were fast, firm and sunny all week long. The moveable rail on the turf course was at 22 feet on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and at the zero setting for Saturday and Sunday. Both tracks continue to play fairly, meaning that there is no obvious bias visible on a consistent basis. Now that the first two months of the meeting are almost complete, it is apparent that many other handicapping factors can influence the outcome of a race as much as track bias. When sizing up a runner's chances at Tampa Bay Downs (or other tracks) pace dynamics must be considered. It might sound complicated, but it doesn't have to be. The old saying "pace makes the race" is a truth that is played out every racing day. At the Downs, it goes like this sometimes. On the dirt, speed does well generally. Runners who can attend the pace and have something left for the stretch are dangerous at all distances. However, both sprints and routes can be stolen by a lone speed horse that gets things their own way. Conversely, if the pace is contested, the speed should tire and a presser or closer gets the money. This is one reason why the top speed figure runner can be vulnerable. The BRIS last-race Late Pace figures are often a valuable tool in this case. Also, they are very useful in sprints over six furlongs and routes on both surfaces. A good example can be found in the results of Sunday's seventh race, a $16,000 claiming event for nonwinners-of–three lifetime, at seven furlongs. The victor, FLEETER (Northern Afleet) possessed the best Late Pace figure. The five-year-old gelding broke fourth, stalked the pace down the backstretch, overhauled the leaders (including the 4-5 choice) on the turn and registered a handy 5 1/2-length tally. The drop to face lifetime-conditions for the first time had to help, too. That's a subject for another time. This coming Saturday will bring a trio of Grade 3 contests on the same day, a history-making milestone at the Oldsmar, Florida, oval. The $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, the traditional prep for the Tampa Bay Derby, will be run at 1 1/16 miles. The first four finishers will earn points toward entrance to the Kentucky Derby. There will be a double helping of grassy stake races for the distaff runners. The $150,000 Endeavour Stakes is for older fillies and mares, also at 1 1/16 miles. The purse and distance remain the same as sophomore fillies are showcased in the Florida Oaks. Shippers continue to go well here, winning 14 of 49 races (29 percent) and favorites prevailed at a 37 percent clip, scoring 18 times last week. HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (1/23) 1ST -- MEET GEORGEANNA (Hoopsworld) showed major improvement in her fourth lifetime start, with blinkers removed. The Edward Williams trainee stalked the pace for six furlongs, lacked room in the stretch and altered course four wide and missed by a nose. She fits with $8,000 maiden claimers. 2ND -- PYRITE GREEN (Seattle Fitz) surprised a field of three-year-old sprinters in a first-level allowance at odds of 13-1. The brown Ohio-bred gelding, being treated with first-time Lasix, overcame trouble on the turn and moved inside through the stretch and came again to score by two lengths. He might get to the winner's circle again this winter. Thursday (1/24) 4TH -- JULIEBROWNEYES (Put It Back) finished a decent third sprinting with $8,000 maiden claiming fillies and mares. She showed some speed early, was always within two lengths of the lead and was three wide in the stretch and had to steady when a rival came out. Could be a threat at this level. 7TH -- MEGNOG (Northern Afleet) and SOME LEGS (Bernstein), both four-year-old fillies, got the place and show, respectively, against a repeat winner in a first-level allowance on the lawn. Both appear capable at this level and both endured less-than-smooth trips. Megnog, trained by Rick Slomkowski, was shuffled back inside early, made a move into the stretch on the inside and took the lead, but couldn't hold off the winner. Some Legs was boxed for six furlongs, moved off the rail to contest the lead and tired a bit to third. This one comes from the formidable turf barn of Christophe Clement and appears to have a bright future. Friday (1/25) 1ST -- RED ROCKET EXPREES (Exclusive Quality), a sophomore gelding, was a very impressive winner in his lifetime debut versus $12,500 maiden claimers. Chad Stewart had the chestnut ready to run for pilot Andemar Santos. It wasn't easy he broke slowly and rushed up the inside, was taken up along the rail and checked again near the quarter pole. He then altered course in mid-stretch and ran past the leader to score by two lengths, in a move that veteran track announcer Richard Grunder described as "an hour the best." Saturday (1/26) 10TH -- TRIPPIN' ALONG (Trippi), a Calder shipper, was steadied inside entering the turn and was running 10th in a ten-horse Lightning Stakes field going five furlongs on the grass. The four-year-old filly moved seven wide through the stretch and got the place, only missing by a nose in a very game effort. She has recorded a pair of wins and seconds sprinting on the turf from four attempts. 11TH -- BIG DEBBY (Theatrical), another four-year-old-miss from the powerful Jane Cibelli barn, overcame trouble to be a good second in her first try with local maiden claimers. With leading jockey Angel Serpa in the irons, she lacked room and was shuffled back early, found her best stride after five furlongs and finished well, just a neck short. Rates a good look with $12,500 company. Sunday (1/27) 6TH -- BIG APPLE LADY (Artie Schiller) lost all chance when she was shut off by a foe leaving the chute in a nonwinners-of-two lifetime test on the sod. She was bet down to 2-1 on the basis of her victory over $25,000 maiden claimers last time out. Deserves another try with $16,000 stock. 8TH -- UNPRECEDENTED (Saint Liam), a Gulfstream invader, settled for third after steadying twice over a rival's heels during the stretch drive in a $25,000 maiden claiming event on the lawn. He was well backed at 3-1 and should be a contender with this kind.
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