TAMPA BAY: RAINY CONDITIONS TAKE LUSTER OFF FINAL DAY OF 2022; NO TURF SUNDAY

By Mike Henry —-

RAINY CONDITIONS TAKE LUSTER OFF FINAL DAY OF 2022; NO TURF SUNDAY

OLDSMAR, FL. – Light but persistent rains early in the day caused the removal of four races from the turf course, relegating the opening legs of the Tampa Turf Test starter handicap series to the main track.

The rain picked up in intensity later in the day, causing track officials to rule out turf racing on Sunday, as well. The nine-race New Year’s Day card begins at 12:32 p.m.

Lately, predicting the weather in the Tampa Bay area has proven as challenging as picking a winner in a 2-year-old maiden special weight race. About all management, horsemen and fans can do is hope 2023 marks a return to the sunny skies and warm temperatures that make the Oldsmar oval such a desirable destination.

On today’s card, 3-year-old colt Alyanaabi won the third race in his first start since being claimed for $16,000 by trainer Benny Feliciano for owner MCR Stable on Dec. 14. Alyanaabi won on the turf that day, but was just as impressive on the main dirt track, winning the mile-and-a-sixteenth race in gate-to-wire fashion.

Making the victory extra special for Feliciano was having his son, Ricardo Feliciano, ride Alyanaabi. But under the category of “you pays your money, you takes your chances:” Alyanaabi was claimed today for $16,000 by trainer Jon Arnett for new owner Danny Stafford.

Arnett had actually tried to claim Alyanaabi on Dec. 14, too, but was prevented from doing so because Stafford had yet to start a horse at the meet.

If experience is the best teacher, jockey Jose Ferrer has learned his lessons well. Named to ride 5-year-old horse Edmund Fitzgerald in the fourth race, a 7-furlong maiden claiming contest in which the wet-fast conditions might have favored front-runners, Ferrer hustled Edmund Fitzgerald to the lead and never looked back, winning by a widening 7 ¼ lengths.

Ferrer’s resurgence has been a feel-good story early in the meet, and his rivals are discovering the 58-year-old can be tough to run down on the lead.

Both legs of the Tampa Turf Test were reduced in field size and switched to the main track at a distance of a mile-and-40 yards. In the seventh race, for males, 4-year-old gelding Prairie wore down Smithwick’s Spice late under jockey Daniel Centeno for his fourth lifetime victory. Prairie is owned by Herman M. Braude and trained by Richard Sillaman.

In the ninth race, for females, 5-year-old Florida-bred mare Chick’s Shadow ran down Asters d’Oro in the final strides for a half-length victory. It was the seventh victory for the homebred Chick’s Shadow, bred and owned by Dave McGinn and trained by Angel Rodriguez. Jose Alonso rode the winner.

The second legs of the Tampa Turf Test will be run Jan. 21 at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth.

Sunshine, do your stuff.