OLDSMAR CUP GOES TO 31-1 OUTSIDER ON DAY OF UPSETS; PICK-5 CARRYOVER

By Mike Henry —-

OLDSMAR, FL. – There was no denying Mayor Dan Saracki had an outstanding time on Oldsmar Cup Day at Tampa Bay Downs.

Saracki, who was accompanied by his wife Paula and several city officials, cashed a ticket on Oldsmar Cup race winner Denying, at 31-1 the longest shot in the nine-horse field. Richard Mitchell rode Denying, a 3-year-old Florida-bred gelding who improved to 2-for-5 for owner Mila Mullens and trainer Arnoud Dobber in the 1-mile turf race, contested as the fifth on the card.

“It’s great to pick the winner. I’m excited. I’m very excited,” Saracki said.

After lollygagging in last place early, Denying surged to the lead along the inside in the stretch and held off a belated rally from Gods Glory by a half-length.

On a card laden with long shots, Denying was the biggest, paying $64 to win.

“He doesn’t have a lot of speed, so I held him until the last quarter-mile,” said Mitchell, Denying’s jockey in each of his five races. “When it was time to go, he just kicked right in. I get on him in the mornings, so I understand him. He’s a nice horse who does what you ask.”

Mitchell also won the first race on Shanghai Warrior, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Eagle View Farm and trained by Derek Ryan.

The Oldsmar Cup commemorates the longstanding relationship between the city and Tampa Bay Downs, often referred to as the Oldsmar oval. “The greatest thing is that it’s close to our birthday,” Saracki said. “Oldsmar was ‘invented’ by R. E. Olds on April 12, 1916, and this day represents who we are and our community involvement and cooperation and teamwork with Tampa Bay Downs.”

Also on hand to represent the city were City Clerk Kristin Garcia and Communications Specialist Barbara Schulte.

Around the oval. With a steady stream of long shots lighting up the tote board, no bettor hit the late Pick-5, so there will be a carryover of $23,431 into Wednesday’s card. That day’s late Pick-5 wager will begin with the fifth race.

In today’s other co-feature, a $31,500 allowance/optional claiming race for 3-year-olds at 7 furlongs, Galaxy Music pulled off a huge upset, going to the lead at the outset and hanging on for a half-length victory from 6-5 favorite Call Me Ice Man. Bright Forecast finished third.

Galaxy Music paid $52.80 to win as the longest shot in the second race on the card. The 3-year-old colt had finished last in his two previous starts, but his most recent race on Feb. 12 here was won by Kingsbarns, the unbeaten (3-for-3) Kentucky Derby prospect who returned six weeks later to win the Grade II Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. Galaxy Music appeared to be back where he belongs today, competition-wise, and turned in a time of 1:23.36 in his winning effort.

The son of Keen Ice out of the Oxbow mare Zo Bow is owned by GOP Racing Stable and trained by Gerard Ochoa. Angel Arroyo rode Galaxy Music, just as he had when he broke his maiden on Aug. 17 at Colonial in his career debut.

Leading jockey Samy Camacho rode two winners. He was aboard 3-year-old gelding Cox Canyon in the sixth race for owner Paterpop Racing and trainer Monica McGoey. Camacho added the eighth race with Thunder Buggy, a 5-year-old mare owned by Benjamin Sanchez and trained by Antonio Machado.

The victory was the fourth in a row for Thunder Buggy, all with Camacho in the saddle.

In the ninth and final race, the Lambholm South Race of the Week allowance for older horses at a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the turf, 4-year-old gelding Great Britain moved smartly to the lead on the turn for home and held off a spirited rally by Sociallongdistance by a head. Maddie Rowland, last season’s apprentice sensation, rode Great Britain for owner Larry Gourneau, Jr., and trainer Dennis Ward.

Rowland, 19, said this was her last race this season at Tampa Bay Downs. She plans to move her business to the mid-Atlantic area.

Tampa Bay Downs is closed Sunday to enable horsemen and horsewomen, track employees and fans to celebrate the Easter holiday. Thoroughbred racing then continues Wednesday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:20 p.m. Following the holiday, the track will be 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.