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TAMPA BAY DOWNS NOTEBOOK FEBRUARY 26, 2013 by Bob Bauer Racing resumed on Wednesday and conditions were back to normal -- fast, firm and sunny. The dirt track was once again good for early speed types as early pacesetters took all four sprints on Wednesday. Routes on both courses were mixed, with wire-to-wire theft possible one time and a closer getting the money the next. The moveable rail on the turf course was installed at its widest setting, 30 feet, through Friday. It returned to 12 feet for remainder of the weekend. Both courses are in top condition now and are playing fair. Having written that, there is an edge to early speed on the dirt now. There are times here when even some faint-hearted sprinters get loose and hold on for the win, or may wire a field of plodding routers. It appears that this could continue for some time, barring bad weather. Tampa's marquee events are in the next couple of weeks and track maintenance will be as perfect as possible. Horseplayers should be looking for the probable early pace match-ups. If there is a runner who will get on the lead alone on this track, it might be worth a bet just on that alone. Add even a slight drop in class, claiming condition or price and this angle could be even more powerful. This week's feature was the $75,000 Super Stakes for four-year-olds and upward going seven furlongs on the main track. A field of nine faced the starter, including CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN (Candy Ride) who won this event back in 2009, and seven-panel specialist BELLEFIRE (Proud Citizen) Last year's victor, ACTION ANDY (Gators N Bears) was the 3-2 favorite, based on his five-for-seven record at the Downs, including the $60,000 Pelican Stakes last December. Action Andy broke on the lead as expected and led at half-mile call by a length. He was chased in earnest by GOOD LORD (Greatness) who was a victim of poor racing luck facing Action Andy last year. This time the tables would turn, as those two dueled through the stretch in what was essentially a two-horse race. Good Lord got up late to register a half-length score and set a new stakes record in the process. The winner traveled in splits of :22 3/5, :45, 1:09 and completed the seven furlongs in 122. The win mutual was $10.60 and the exacta with the two choices returned $31.20. Capt. Candyman Can was cold on the board (5-1) and finished last. Bellefire finished well to get the show, completing the $103 trifecta. The $100,000 Suncoast Stakes, featuring sophomore fillies traveling one mile and 40 yards on the main track, is next week's highlight. The Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby and Festival Day at the Downs are coming up fast on March 9. The winning rate for shippers has cooled a bit -- 10 for 50 (20 percent) this week. Favorites continue to score at very robust pace, taking 20 of 50 events in the same period of time (40 percent). HORSES TO WATCH Wednesday (2/20) 2ND -- ROJO VERDE (Songandaprayer) came back running after a 382-day break from the races in his first attempt for a tag. He had a tardy start and was last at the half-mile call, but moved three wide on the turn and got up for the place against a loose-on-the-lead winner. Should be able to beat $16,000 nonwinners-of-two lifetime claimer for sprinters. Thursday (2/21) 4th -- LA CONDESA (Freud) woke up and got the place at 56-1 after lacking room down inside on the backstretch. This lightly-raced sophomore filly fits with $8,000 maiden claimers and rates a look at a square price. 5TH -- COMPOSITION (Malibu Moon) snatched victory back after he blew the lead on the far turn and bore out badly at the top of the stretch. Last seen at Belmont in September, this Christophe Clement trainee had the look of a winner when he recovered his stride and fought back gamely to overcome trouble to get up by a neck. This was his first time with the medication Lasix and he may be on the improve now. Friday (2/22) 8TH -- PICK FOUR (Pure Prize) had a bit of a rough trip the first time back after a 127-day hiatus with $16,000 claimers on the lawn. The five-year-old gelding had an alert start under Ron Allen Jr., was boxed into the turn and angled to the outside and faded. This one has scored before at the Downs switching from turf to dirt and might do it again soon. 9TH -- YNOT GRAY BOY (Whywhywhy) displayed good early foot, dueled inside and had a lead at the half-mile call in his first try with nonwinners-of-three lifetime sprinters. He was then bumped by a foe and lost his momentum. He can compete with this kind and could be dangerous if able to get on the lead by himself. Saturday (2/23) 4TH -- BILLY'S BAND (Bowman's Band) has shown marked improvement in his last pair of races with the addition of blinkers. In his latest effort, he closed stoutly making up almost 14 lengths in the stretch at 15-1 to get the place with $6,250 claiming sprinters. Prior to that, this five-year-old gelding got up in the final strides to best a field of nonwinners-of-one in six months. This one has good late-pace ability, which appears to be enhanced by the hood. Should benefit if he faces a field of speedsters and a pace duel develops. 11TH -- STAYO (Scorpion) finished a good third in his first lifetime start with $25,000 maiden claimers on the turf. The five-year-old gelding was steadied on the clubhouse turn, saved ground into the stretch and was gaining late. Might have a future on the grass. Sunday (2/24) 3RD -- COMIC MISS (Proudest Romeo) broke awkwardly and ran well to chase the leaders from fourth, was four wide and got the show despite brushing with a rival in the late going. This was this six-year-old mare's first time back after a six-month vacation, against nonwinners-of-two in six months, and she appears to be eligible for nonwinners-of-one. She's been a winner here in the past and should be formidable next time, more so if she takes the slight drop. 6TH -- FAVORITE MELODY (Bernstein), a Woodbine shipper, had her saddle slip and was pulled up in her first try in Tampa versus $16,000 nonwinners-of-three lifetime on the sod. Conditioned by Mark Casse, this five-year-old mare has had some bad racing luck in the past few outings. She is now competing at the lowest level of her experience and could surprise the right field.
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