‘DERBY FEVER’ TO ARRIVE HERE SATURDAY, ALONG WITH TOP TRAINERS, JOCKS

By Mike Henry —-

‘DERBY FEVER’ TO ARRIVE HERE SATURDAY, ALONG WITH TOP TRAINERS, JOCKS

OLDSMAR, FL. – After an unseasonably cold January, spring is in the air along Florida’s west-central coast.

The ideal weather has afflicted many of the area’s countless Thoroughbred racing fans with a malady known as “Derby fever,” which Tampa Bay Downs track officials hope intensifies during Saturday’s 12-race Festival Preview Day card.

The Oldsmar oval will conduct four main-track stakes races Saturday, headlined by the 45th running of the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth. The race awards “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying points to the top five finishers on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale.

Also scheduled Saturday are the 45th edition of the Suncoast Stakes, a mile-and-40-yard “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” points race for 3-year-old fillies; the 41st running of the $125,000 Pelican Stakes, a 6-furlong sprint for horses 4-years-old-and-upward; and the 44th running of the $100,000 Minaret Stakes, for fillies-and-mares 4-and-upward racing 6 furlongs.

The first race will be run at 12:05 p.m. Admission is $3. There are five turf races on the card. The Sam F. Davis is the 11th race, with an expected post time of 5:14 p.m.

The Suncoast is the ninth race. The Pelican and the Minaret will be run back-to-back as the fifth and sixth races.

Expected to join the local riding colony are such standout reinsmen as 2024 Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat, who won two Grade III turf stakes, the Tampa Bay Stakes and the Endeavour Stakes, here on Saturday; Irad Ortiz, Jr.; Brian Hernandez, Jr.; Junior Alvarado; Dylan Davis; Paco Lopez; and Edwin Gonzalez.

The Sam F. Davis has drawn a field of 10 3-year-olds, with much of the pre-race buzz being generated by unbeaten (3-for-3) Grade II winner Poster; Owen Almighty, who finished first in the Pasco Stakes here on Jan. 11, only to be disqualified to fifth for interference on the far turn; and Naughty Rascal, elevated to first by the stewards in the Pasco for his third career stakes victory.

Poster, who is owned by his breeder, Godolphin, and trained by Eoin Harty, drew the No. 7 post position for the Sam F. Davis. He will be ridden by Antonio Gallardo. Owen Almighty, who will be ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., drew the No. 6 post. He is owned by Flying Dutchmen Breeding and Racing and trained by Brian Lynch.

Naughty Rascal, who is owned by Mr Pug, LLC and J.P.G. 2, LLC and trained by Gerald Bennett, will break from the No. 8 post.

Here is the full field for the Sam F. Davis Stakes in post position order, followed by jockey and trainer:

Camp Hale, Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ian Wilkes; 2. Treaty of Rome, Dylan Davis, Chad Brown; 3. John Hancock, Flavien Prat, Brad Cox; 4. Dr Ruben M, Junior Alvarado, Doug O’Neill; 5. Gateskeeper, David Cohen, S. Jade Cunningham; 6. Owen Almighty, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Brian Lynch; 7. Poster, Antonio Gallardo, Eoin Harty; 8. Naughty Rascal, Edwin Gonzalez, Gerald Bennett; 9. Smoken Boy, Paco Lopez, Jose Francisco D’Angelo; 10. Very Bold, Jesus Castanon, Eoin Harty.

In the Suncoast, another Godolphin-owned homebred, Deloraine, will seek her first career dirt victory for trainer Harty. Her first start at Tampa Bay Downs, on Dec. 13 on the turf, resulted in an 8 ¼-length victory under Jesus Castanon, who is named for a return assignment.

Deloraine could be usurped as the favorite by La Cara, a daughter of 2007 Tampa Bay Derby and Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense. La Cara won the Grade III Pocahontas Stakes last September at Churchill Downs and finished fifth on Nov. 1 in the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

Bred and owned by Tracy Farmer, she is trained by Mark Casse and will be ridden by Dylan Davis.

Another expected strong contender is Dancing Magic, who won the 7-furlong Gasparilla Stakes here on Jan. 11. Junior Alvarado will again be aboard for owner Mellon Patch and trainer Michael Campbell.

Here is the full field for the Suncoast Stakes in post position order, followed by jockey and trainer:

Deloraine, Jesus Castanon, Eoin Harty; 2. Dancing Magic, Junior Alvarado, Michael Campbell; 3. Italian Soiree, Flavien Prat, John P. Terranova, II; 4. Her Laugh, Irad Ortiz, Jr., D. Whitworth Beckman; 5. Junta, Willie Martinez, Anthony Granitz; 6. La Cara, Dylan Davis, Mark Casse; Queen in the Deck, Samuel Marin, Carlos Munoz; 8. Cloe, Samy Camacho, Victor Barboza, Jr.

The Pelican Stakes is expected to bring together seven crack sprinters, the most intriguing of whom seems to be 4-year-old colt Nutella Fella, owned by Bell Gable Stable and trained by Gary Contessa. Alvarado has been named to ride.

Winner of the Grade I, 7-furlong Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga as a 2-year-old, Nutella Fella finished second in his Oldsmar debut to Chrome Ghost going 7 furlongs on Jan. 11. His come-from-behind style should create plenty of heart-palpitating excitement through the stretch, no matter the outcome.

Pure Class and Caramel Chip should also take substantial wagering action. The 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding Pure Class, owned by his breeders, JoAnn and Alex Lieblong and trained by David Fawkes, is a stakes winner in state-bred competition, but the big test comes Saturday.

The 7-year-old Caramel Cip, owned by Bianco Stable and trained by Carlos David, ran fourth in last year’s Pelican. He is 11-for-41 lifetime while seeking his first career stakes triumph. Ortiz is the jockey.

Here is the full field for the Pelican Stakes in post position order, followed by jockey and trainer:

Spankster, Cipriano Gil, S. Jade Cunningham; 2. Nutella Fella, Junior Alvarado, Gary Contessa; 3. Silver Slugger, Marcos Meneses, Juan Carlos Avila; 4. Caramel Chip, Irad Ortiz, Jr., Carlos David; 5. Pure Class, Paco Lopez, David Fawkes; 6. Dreaming of Kona, Scott Spieth, Aldana Spieth; 7. Life Is Precious, Daniel Centeno, Gerald Bennett.

The Minaret, on paper, appears to be as wide-open as any of the Saturday’s stakes. Even though her last victory came eight starts and almost 21 months ago, 5-year-old mare Dazzling Blue could be the bettor’s top choice. She has finished second or third in four career graded-stakes and will be ridden by Prat for owner Juddmonte and trainer Brad Cox.

Nic’s Style has the look of a serious contender. The 5-year-old Florida-bred mare is 5-for-6 lifetime, her only defeat a runner-up effort in last year’s Grade II Gallant Bloom Stakes in New York, and she showed an affinity for the Tampa Bay Downs dirt surface on Dec. 14 in winning the 7-furlong Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes in an excellent time of 1:21.84.

Alvarado has ridden her in all her starts and is again named for owner Stephen Rousseau and trainer Bill Mott.

Here is the full field for the Minaret Stakes in post position order, followed by jockey and trainer:

Opus Forty Two, Daniel Centeno, Arnaud Delacour; 2. Sing a Little Song, Brian Hernandez, Jr., Ian Wilkes; 3. R Harper Rose, Pablo Morales, Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.; 4. Nic’s Style, Junior Alvarado, Bill Mott; 5. Ruthless Rua, Edwin Gonzalez, Sam Wilensky; 6. Dazzling Blue, Flavien Prat, Brad Cox; 7. Broken Hearts Bay, Paco Lopez, Jon Arnett; 8. Miuccia, Samy Camacho, Gustavo Delgado.

Around the oval. Sonny Leon rode two winners on today’s card. He captured the first race on Grey Princess, a 5-year-old mare owned by Dennis Deoroop and trained by Rohan Crichton. Leon added the seventh race on the turf on 18-1 shot Spanish Noble, a 6-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by James M. Chicklo and trained by Kathleen O’Connell.

Thoroughbred racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:15 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs races each Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The track 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.