TAMPA BAY: JEAN ELIZABETH TO PUT WINNING STREAK ON LINE IN LIGHTNING CITY

By Mike Henry —-

JEAN ELIZABETH TO PUT WINNING STREAK ON LINE IN LIGHTNING CITY

OLDSMAR, FL. – Jean Elizabeth, whose current six-race winning streak consists entirely of stakes victories, headlines the field for Saturday’s 16th edition of the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward.

The Lightning City and the 16th running of the $100,000 Turf Dash comprise the track’s Turf Sprint Showcase, with both races at a distance of 5 furlongs. The Turf Dash is the sixth race and the Lightning City is the eighth race on a 10-race card beginning at 12:45 p.m.

There are 14 entrants for the Lighting City, with only 12 permitted to start. Ten have entered the Turf Dash, including the talented 7-year-old Florida-bred gelding Extravagant Kid.

The 5-year-old Illinois-bred mare Jean Elizabeth, who has 13 victories and has never finished out of the money in 19 starts, won the 5-furlong Ladies Turf Sprint on Jan. 25 at Gulfstream in her first-ever try on grass. She won the Grade III Ontario Fashion Stakes on Woodbine’s all-weather track on Oct. 19, the second of her ongoing stakes streak.

Jean Elizabeth, a daughter of Adios Charlie out of the Lit de Justice mare Rooney Doodle, was bred by Larry Rivelli and Richard Ravin, who own her in partnership with Patricia’s Hope, LLC. Rivelli, the trainer, won the 2015 Lightning City Stakes with Richies Sweetheart.

Albin Jimenez has been named to ride Jean Elizabeth.

Extravagant Kid appears to be coming up to the Turf Dash in excellent form, with a victory in his most recent start on Jan. 18 at Gulfstream in the Sunshine Millions Sprint Stakes. The winner of last year’s Florida Cup Sprint at Tampa Bay Downs is 13-for-40 lifetime and finished second last June to Wet Your Whistle in the Grade I Highlander Stakes on the grass at Woodbine.

Extravagant Kid is owned by DARRS, Inc., and trained by Brendan Walsh. Leading Oldsmar jockey Antonio Gallardo has been named to ride.

Also entered is 10-year-old Florida-bred gelding Pay Any Price, whose 18-for-30 career record includes a victory in the 2018 Turf Dash.

Pay Any Price is owned by Matties Racing Stable and Averill Racing and trained by Georgina Baxter. Pablo Morales will be the jockey.

Around the oval. Owner Jose R. Alvarado and trainer Hernan Parra combined for back-to-back victories today. They won the fifth race on the turf with Teacher Drama, a 3-year-old filly ridden by Samy Camacho. Alvarado and Parra also captured the seventh with 3-year-old Florida-bred filly Commander of Death, ridden by Jose L. Rivera, Jr.

In addition to his victory on Teacher Drama, Camacho won the second race with Fourth Design, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Averill Racing and trained by Gerald Bennett.

Antonio Gallardo rode two winners, raising his meet-leading total to 61. Gallardo won the fourth race on I’llmakeyousmile, a 4-year-old filly owned by E. Ervine Woolsey and Ralph Kinder and trained by Michael Tomlinson. Gallardo added the seventh on the turf on Sweet Blossom, a 4-year-old filly owned by Partner Stable and trained by Antonio Machado.

Thooroughbred racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:40 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs races each Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through May 3, with the exception of Easter Sunday, April 12, when the track is closed.

Otherwise, Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

Seafood Fest on Feb. 29. Tampa Bay Downs taps into a Tampa Bay area food tradition on Saturday, Feb. 29, playing host to its annual Seafood Fest luncheon under the Trackside Picnic Pavilion Tent. The Seafood Fest will be held from noon-4 p.m.

In addition to a seafood boil, shrimp, jambalaya and the fixins,’ wine and beer-tastings will be held throughout. The cost of $34.95 a person includes admission, a racing program and a spin of the prize wheel.

For details, call (813) 855-4401, extension 1368.