Stakes picks: Top choices for Tampa Bay Downs' Saturday features
Four of 10 races on Tampa Bay Downs' Saturday card are stakes races on a card that will be led by Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner-up World of Trouble's return to dirt. While we aren't trying to beat that heavy favorite, others in here appear vulnerable. Here's how I'm tackling the features:
Race 4: City of Ocala Florida Sire
3-year-old Florida-bred fillies, 7f, 1:52 p.m. ET
#2 Broadway Run (3-1) is a consistent New York turf sprinter, and she could end up the chalk in this spot. I will make her prove that she can win on dirt and will side with #7 Florida Fuego (5-2). The latter is 3-for-4 in fast track sprints and won a local extended sprint stakes affair on March 25. She projects an outside stalking trip for the productive Paco Lopez and David Fawkes team.
Race 6: Inaugural
2-year-olds, 6f, 2:52 p.m. ET
#9 Regally Irish (4-1) won his shortest race to date in his career debut at 5 1/2 furlongs on Aug. 26. Since that race, he sprinted on turf, routed on dirt, and was second to a runaway winner from the outside post in an extended sprint at Laurel on Nov. 16. He figures to love the cutback today and looms an outside pace factor at the very least.
Race 7: Marion County Florida Sire
Florida-bred 3-year-olds, 7f, 3:22 p.m. ET
#2 World of Trouble (1-1) is going to be very tough to beat in this spot. The Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up is back on dirt and he ran away with the Pasco Stakes at this course/distance on Jan. 20. He is faster than these and should go all the way under Antonio Gallardo.
Race 9: Sandpiper
2-year-old fillies, 6f, 4:22 p.m. ET
#11 Into the South (7-2) probably wins this if she runs back to her Saratoga maiden victory at this distance on Aug. 26. That race produced two next out winners. Since that effort, she rallied to finish fourth in the Matron (G3) on turf and was third to runaway winner Dunph in the Spendthrift Juvenile Stallion Stakes against male rivals on Oct. 28. She blew out a local three-furlong bullet for this Dec. 11 and projects an outside stalking trip.