TAMPA BAY: TOP TRAINERS APPEAR TO HAVE STRONG HANDS FOR “TURF CHAMPIONS DAY”

By Mike Henry —-

TOP TRAINERS APPEAR TO HAVE STRONG HANDS FOR “TURF CHAMPIONS DAY”

OLDSMAR, FL. – Trainer Chad Brown, whose wellspring of talented turf horses seems to never run dry, has nominated five horses apiece to the Grade III, $175,000 Tampa Bay Stakes and the Grade III, $175,000 Endeavour Stakes on Feb. 1 at Tampa Bay Downs.

Both races will be contested at a distance of a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Oldsmar turf course, with the Tampa Bay Stakes for males 4-years-old-and-upward and the Endeavour for fillies and mares 4-and-upward.

The two races, comprising the track’s annual “Turf Champions Day,” drew a combined 65 nominees – 37 for the 39th running of the Tampa Bay Stakes and 28 for the 26th edition of the Endeavour.

Brown has won the Endeavour four times, most recently in 2022 with Bleecker Street. His most-accomplished nominee, 7-year-old multiple graded-stakes winning mare Fluffy Socks, is scheduled to run in a Grade II stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park, but he has a Grade II winner nominated in 5-year-old mare Prerequisite, and it would be no surprise to see Brown represented by at least one solid contender a week from Saturday.

Other highly accomplished Endeavour Stakes nominees include one of trainer Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.’s five nominees, Be Your Best, winner of back-to-back Grade III stakes races to close out 2024; Mohawk Trail, a Grade III-winning 5-year-old trained by Kelsey Danner; Ocean Club, a Jack Sisterson-trained 5-year-old who won the Grade III Noble Damsel Stakes in September at Belmont At The Big A; and trainer Todd Pletcher’s 4-year-old filly Raqiya, who won the Grade III Goldikova Stakes presented by Yaamava in her first U.S. start in November at Del Mar.

Although he has yet to win the Tampa Bay Stakes, Brown has some serious possibilities among his nominees, including Calumet Farm’s 6-year-old horse Running Bee. After finishing second in last year’s Tampa Bay Stakes by a half-length to Never Explain, Running Bee won three stakes in 2024, including a dead-heat with Fort Washington in the Grade III Monmouth Stakes.

Brown’s Tampa Bay Stakes nominees also include 6-year-old Grade III winner Smokin’ T and 6-year-old multiple-stakes winner Spirit of St Louis.

Michael Maker has nominated six horses to the Tampa Bay Stakes, headed by 6-year-old Emmanuel. Although his last victory came in March in the Grade III Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream, he is the Tampa Bay Downs course record-holder for the mile-and-a-sixteenth distance, winning the 2023 Tampa Bay Stakes in 1:39.25 while trained by Todd Pletcher.

Trainer Claude “Shug” McGaughey, III has won the Tampa Bay Stakes four times, including last year with Never Explain. His lone nominee this year is 6-year-old Fort Washington, who finished second in his last start on Dec. 21 in the Grade II Fort Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream and (as mentioned above) dead-heated with Running Bee in the Grade III Monmouth Stakes.

Another intriguing nominee is 4-year-old colt Full Nelson, trained by Jose Francisco D’Angelo. He won the Columbia Stakes here on the turf last March and finished second in last month’s Tropical Park Derby on the grass at Gulfstream.

Around the oval. Leading jockey Samy Camacho rode two winners today. He captured the fourth race on Explosive Exchange, a 5-year-old Florida-bred mare owned by Heehaw Racing and trained by Mike Dini. Camacho added the sixth race with Little Lukey, a 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding owned by Gary Ellebracht, Virginia L. Hoover and Nicole M. Hoover and trained by Ellebracht.

For his part, Dini also saddled the winner of the ninth and final race, 6-year-old gelding Cupid’s Dude. Antonio Gallardo was the jockey for Dini and owner Frank DeLuca.

In the featured eighth race, a $54,500 allowance/optional claiming event for fillies and mares 4-years-old-and-upward sprinting 6 furlongs, 4-year-old Launch, the 2-5 favorite, toyed with her four rivals, winning by 7 ½ lengths in a time of 1:10.03. David Egan rode Launch for owner Amo Racing USA and trainer Jorge Delgado.

As the horses were galloping out, Delgado’s other entry in the race, 4-year-old Pacific Rose, fell and threw jockey Cipriano Gil to the ground. A pair of track veterinarians rushed to Pacific Rose’s side to determine her condition while emergency medical technicians attended to Gil.

This story has a happy ending you had to see to believe: After 4 or 5 minutes, Pacific Rose got to her feet, apparently unhurt, and was walked back to her barn for further evaluation. Gil had a sprained left ankle and was in a fair amount of pain, but to see both horse and rider get up was a huge lift to everyone.

Thoroughbred action continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:16 p.m. The track conducts racing each Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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.

During today’s action, the majority of Tampa Bay Downs racegoers could have used ski caps, scarves and an extra pair of socks, with temperatures in the mid-40s, brisk winds and overcast skies. On Saturday, they’ll receive a head covering they can wear all year if they are among the first 5,000 fans.

It’s the always-popular Cap Giveaway Day, free with paid admissions. Patrons will also have a chance to get their caps autographed during the afternoon by many of the track’s leading jockeys on the first floor of the Grandstand.

It’s supposed to warm up on Sunday, when Tampa Bay Downs will hold its first “Mouse’s Kids and Family Day” of the meet in the Backyard Picnic Area. Numerous child-friendly activities will be offered, including pony rides, bounce houses and games of skill. There will also be a food truck stationed nearby.