The winner of last year's $125,000 Gasparilla Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Tampa Bay Downs, trainer Mark Casse's Florida-bred Two Sixty, added to her laurels in July with a front-running victory in the Grade 3 Selene Stakes at Woodbine.
But it was fifth-place Gasparilla finisher Swiss Skydiver who just about set the horse racing world on fire last Jan. 18.
After missing the Tampa Bay Downs winner's circle in Oldsmar, Fla., by less than a length (her Equibase chart comment read, in part, “…was urged to challenge the winner four wide between foes leaving mid-stretch but was floated out by that foe late while losing her momentum and just missing for a share”), Swiss Skydiver put together a season that made her one of the most popular horses in training and the favorite for an Eclipse Award as Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.
Under the guidance of trainer Ken McPeek, Swiss Skydiver won five graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Preakness – beating the probable Horse of the Year Authentic – and the G1 Alabama.
Such reflection is a roundabout way of suggesting that Saturday's seven-furlong Gasparilla and the $125,000, seven-furlong Pasco Stakes for 3-year-old males could produce one or more runners fans will be talking about deep into 2021 and beyond.
Saturday's 11-race Skyway Festival Day card, which also includes the $50,000 Wayward Lass Stakes for older fillies and mares racing a mile-and-a-sixteenth, begins at 12:10 p.m.
Seven sophomore fillies are entered in the Gasparilla, which is the sixth race on the card. The field includes Feeling Mischief, who returns to competition after winning the six-furlong Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 5. She is trained by Michael B. Campbell and will be ridden again by Jesus Castanon. Trainer Tim Hamm has two entries: Charge It All, who won a local allowance/optional claiming race on Dec. 20, and Make a Scene, who broke her maiden in Oldsmar on Dec. 26. Wilmer Garcia rides Charge It All and Roberto Alvarado, Jr., is named on Make a Scene.
For some entrants, the Gasparilla is intended as a prep race for the $150,000, mile-and-40-yard Suncoast Stakes on Feb. 6. The first four finishers in the Suncoast earn “Road to the Kentucky Oaks” qualifying points.
There are eight sophomore colts and geldings entered in the Pasco, which is the seventh race on the card. The field includes Nova Rags, a colt from the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. Nova Rags broke his maiden on Oct. 10 at Belmont and finished fourth on Nov. 8 in the G3 Nashua Stakes at Aqueduct. Leading Oldsmar jockey Samy Camacho will be the rider.
Others to watch include The Distractor, a stakes-placed gelding trained by Kathleen O'Connell, and Newyearsblockparty, a supplemental entry trained by Anthony Pecoraro. Hector Diaz, Jr., will ride The Distractor and Jose Ferrer will be on Newyearsblockparty.
The Pasco, for some, is a prep for the G3, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 6; the Sam F. Davis is a “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points race.
The 2019 Pasco winner, a Florida-bred named Win Win Win, has also burnished his resume since setting the still-standing track record of 1:20.89 for the seven-furlong Pasco trip two years ago. The final start of his career, in the G1 Forego Stakes in August at Saratoga, resulted in a thrilling, come-from-behind victory.
Throw in such previous winners as Catalina Red (2015), Dynamic Sky (2013), Prospective (2012) and Musket Man (2009), and it's apparent many top horsemen look upon the Pasco as a launching pad for horses they hope will take them places throughout the year.
So although you haven't heard much from any of the 3-year-olds set to perform Saturday, it's a safe assumption the best days are ahead for a select few.
Or, as Yogi Berra (the baseball player, not the horse) might have said, you never know until you find out.
Nine older fillies and mares are entered in the Wayward Lass, slated as the ninth race. Estilo Talentoso, a 4-year-old owned and trained by Juan Arriagada, returns to competition for the first time since her victory on Aug. 20 in the Escena Stakes at Gulfstream. She has finished first or second in eight of her nine starts. Jose Batista is the jockey.
On the Town, a 5-year-old mare from the barn of Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, and Lucky Stride, a 5-year-old trained by Michael Trombetta, should also be competitive. Diaz has the assignment aboard On the Town and Antonio Gallardo rides Lucky Stride.
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