Florida's historic Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry will be on display on Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs, with a pair of $100,000 stakes races sponsored by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association highlighting the 10-race card.
Post time for the first race is 12:12 p.m. The FTBOA Marion County Florida Sire Stakes for colts and geldings is the third race, with the FTBOA City of Ocala Florida Sire Stakes for fillies and mares the seventh race. Both races are for registered Florida-breds 3-years-old and upward who are sired by an FTBOA-registered Florida stallion. Each race will be contested on the main dirt track at a distance of 7 furlongs.
With a forecast of sunny skies and temperatures climbing into the mid-70s, fans are encouraged to be part of the excitement. Spectators are required to wear masks and encouraged to practice social distancing.
Despite having only seven entrants, the Marion County might be the most wide-open race on the card. The 3-year-old gelding Legal Deal, 4-year-old colt Jackson and 3-year-old colt Shivaree – the first, second and fourth-place finishers, respectively, in the Nov. 14 Millions Sprint Preview Stakes sprinting 6 furlongs on a sloppy track at Gulfstream Park West – are set to resume their rivalry.
None of those three, however, are likely to be the betting favorite. That role should fall to 5-year-old gelding Noble Drama, who on that same Nov. 14 card was upset by 27-1 shot Quenane in the 1-mile Millions Classic Preview Stakes. Before that, Noble Drama had won the Benny The Bull Stakes and the FTBOA Florida Sire Wildcat Heir Stakes back-to-back at Gulfstream Park, giving him five career stakes victories.
Noble Drama races for his breeder, Harold L. Queen, and is trained by David Fawkes. He will be ridden by leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Samy Camacho. Noble Drama's victories include the 2018 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Jackson, bred and owned by Tracy Pinchin and trained by her husband, Jose Pinchin, won the Grade III World of Trouble Sprint Stakes back in February at Gulfstream Park. He is 3-for-3 at Tampa Bay Downs, all state-bred stakes victories. His victory in the 2019 FTBOA Silver Charm Florida Sire Stakes was achieved in track-record time of 1:38.86 for the mile-and-40-yard distance.
Antonio Gallardo will ride Jackson.
Shivaree, bred and owned by Jacks or Better Farm and trained by Ralph Nicks, might be the most intriguing Marion County entrant. He's a multiple-stakes winner, and back in February and March he finished second in the Grade III Swale Stakes, the Hutcheson Stakes and the Grade I Curlin Florida Derby in succession, all at Gulfstream. He also competed in the Grade II Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Grade I Runhappy Travers at Saratoga. Roberto Alvarado, Jr., has the riding assignment.
The City of Ocala has attracted nine hopefuls, with 5-year-old mare Heiressall the probable favorite. Owned by My Purple Haze Stables and trained by Teresa Pompay, she won the Sheer Drama Stakes on Sept. 6 at Gulfstream before a fifth-place finish in the slop on Nov. 14 at Gulfstream Park West in the Millions Distaff Stakes. Gallardo will be the rider.
Other likely contenders include 5-year-old Tiz Possible Dear, who won that Millions Distaff Stakes; 4-year-old filly R Prerogative, who finished third in last year's City of Ocala; and 3-year-old Independent Miss, who has finished in the money in six consecutive starts.
Hector Diaz, Jr., will ride Tiz Possible Dear for owner Paradise Farms Corp. and trainer Peter Walder, while Camacho has the assignment on R Prerogative for owners Averill Racing and CCF Racing Stable and trainer Georgina Baxter.
Independent Miss races for her breeder-owner, Stonehedge LLC, and is trained by Michael Yates. Alberto Burgos is the jockey.
Bettors who choose to overlook 3-year-old The Goddess Lyssa, a supplemental entry, do so at their own risk. Although off since May 8, she is 3-for-4 for owner Team Equistaff, Inc., and leading Oldsmar trainer Gerald Bennett. Alvarado is the jockey.
The post Noble Drama Tops Saturday’s FTBOA Stakes At Tampa Bay Downs appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
