GALLARDO MAINTAINS SLIM ADVANTAGE IN EXCITING JOCKEYS RACE

By Mike Henry —-

OLDSMAR, FL. – From March 31 through April 16, a period spanning seven racing days, Samy Camacho rode only two winners from 43 starters. Antonio Gallardo took full advantage of Camacho’s slump, riding nine winners over a four-day period – including four on April 7 – to wrest control of the Tampa Bay Downs jockeys race.

But just when Gallardo’s lead appeared comfortable (although far from secure), Camacho started clicking. He won the first three races on today’s card, briefly tying his rival and setting up an exciting finish for the title between the two Oldsmar kingpins.

Gallardo won the fourth race on 2-5 shot Banyan Breeze, a 5-year-old Florida-bred horse owned by Stonehedge, LLC and trained by Kathleen O’Connell, to regain the lead, then won the seventh race via disqualification on 4-year-old filly Monad – owned and trained by Jose Lozano Sanchez – to gain a 96-94 edge entering Friday’s card.

While the season concludes on May 2, the track’s June 30 program (which is the first day of the annual two-day Summer Festival of Racing) counts toward the 2020-2021 standings, and both jockeys will have the option of returning here on that Wednesday in pursuit of the crown.

Gallardo, the defending champion, has won five jockey titles at Tampa Bay Downs. Only Mike Manganello and Daniel Centeno, with six apiece, have more. Gallardo is the track’s single-season record-holder, riding 147 winners during the 2014-2015 meeting, the second of three consecutive Tampa Bay Downs championships for the Spaniard.

Camacho, who hails from Venezuela, won the 2018-2019 title with 123 winners.

Camacho’s hat trick today began in the first race with Continually, a 3-year-old homebred filly racing for Arthur B. Hancock III’s Stone Farm and trained by Christophe Clement. Camacho won the second race on 5-year-old mare Baci, bred by Toby Keith’s Dream Walkin Farms, owned by Winning Stables and trained by that outfit’s maestro, leading Oldsmar trainer Gerald Bennett. Camacho added the third on Bennett’s 4-year-old gelding Wicked Strong Alex, also owned by Winning Stables.

Wicked Strong Alex was claimed from the victory for $8,000 by owner-trainer Steven Dye.

Whether the excitement continues to build between now and May 2, or one of the two jockeys pulls away, is anyone’s guess. It’s probably best to enjoy it while you can, unless your money is with any number of other riders determined to throw a wrench into the storyline.

Around the oval. Racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:17 p.m. Seven racing days remain in the 2020-2021 season, which concludes with the “Fan Appreciation Day” card on Sunday, May 2. There will be free Grandstand admission and parking, and beers, sodas and Nathan’s Hot Dogs will be sold at discounted prices.

The May 2 card will also mark the unofficial conclusion of the Oldsmar oval’s 95th anniversary season. As mentioned above, the meeting proper ends Wednesday, June 30, which is also the first day of the ninth annual, two-day Summer Festival of Racing. The July 1 Summer Festival card is officially the first day of the 2021-2022 meeting, which is expected to then resume in late November.