Wednesday's Best Bet: Candidate is a contender at Tampa Bay
Wednesday’s seventh race at Tampa Bay Downs is an optional claiming event for 2-year-olds traveling 1 1/16 miles on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 3:28 p.m. EST.
Click here for Tampa Bay Downs entries and results.
No. 8 Candidate (3-1) caught the slop and gave way after setting the pace in his route debut. He got out there and controlled the pace at this distance on firm turf second time out, and he had plenty left in the tank in an easy maiden win. His stablemate Prowling Tiger stalked the pace and was second best last time, and he returned with a smart maiden turf route victory on Nov. 13. Arnaud Delacour excels with his recent graduates trying winners for the first time, and Daniel Centeno wins races with this barn.
No. 3 Dataman (5-2) makes his first start as a gelding for Graham Motion. He stretched out and graduated in a turf route second time out at Colonial Downs and failed in his last two stakes tries.
No. 2 Live is Life (4-1) owns competitive all-weather and dirt speed ratings. He figures to save ground stalking the pace and is a logical contender if he handles turf.
No. 1 Bramble Blaze (6-1) rallied to win his turf route bow, and he was no threat in his last two stakes tries. The new gelding adds blinkers and will try to get involved late.
Wagers:
No. 8 to win
Exacta box 3-8
Trifecta 3-8/1-2-3-8/1-2-3-8
Recent Best Bet winners
Nov. 27 – Hong Kong Harry ($5.20)
Thursday – Tap the Faith ($6.30), exacta ($18.20)
Saturday - Dr B/Bank Sting/Betsy Blue trifecta ($84.48)