Wednesday's Best Bet: Mission of Joy is jubilant at Tampa Bay
Wednesday’s seventh race at Tampa Bay Downs is an optional claiming event for 3-year-old fillies traveling one mile on the turf course. The scheduled post time is 3:24 p.m. EST.
Click here for Tampa Bay Downs entries and results.
No. 4 Mission of Joy (5-2) showed marked improvement in a turf route second time out. She shipped to Tampa Bay and stretched out last time, stalked from the outside post and pulled well clear. Graham Motion’s filly has upside and would not have to improve much to beat this group.
No. 2 Tall Girl (5-2) was competitive in each of her five turf route starts. Sharp local rider Pablo Morales takes the call, and she probably will stalk the pace.
No. 5 Grand Oak (9-5) was excellent in her turf sprint maiden win last spring, and she failed to crack the top three in her next five stakes starts. I am not sure she wants to route, and she won’t offer much wagering value. We will get a better gauge of her true ability in this spot.
Wagers:
No. 4 to win
Exacta 4-2
Trifecta key 4/2-5
Recent Best Bet winners
Jan. 2 – Mr Fisk ($7.40), exacta ($29)
Jan. 3 – Recruiter ($4.60)
Jan. 5 – Broadway Boogie/Elle Est Forte/Bravo Kitten trifecta ($92.40)
Last Tuesday – Peach Perfect ($4.20), trifecta ($40)
Thursday – Over the Channel ($6.40), trifecta ($106.20)