Pablo Morales Rides Five Winners For Second Saturday In A Row At Tampa

Don't let his looks deceive you; behind Pablo Morales's youthful appearance lurks a ruthless competitor.

“He looks so nice and polite,” said his agent, Paula Bacon, laughing because those are in fact two traits Morales possesses in abundance. “But he's actually a baby-faced sharpshooter in sheep's clothing.”

Bacon's metaphor hasn't been far off the last two Saturdays at Tampa Bay Downs. After riding five winners on Jan. 1, Morales did it again today, starting 4-for-4 before cooling off to go 5-for-8 with a second.

The performance gives Morales 23 victories at the meet, moving him into a tie for first with Antonio Gallardo. It is the third time Morales has won five races on a Tampa Bay Downs card.

“Unreal. That was awesome, what can I say?” said Morales. “I'm just as happy as I can be. This game is definitely weird, and we just have to stay after it every day. Things like this are what help me keep on going, no matter what.”

Bacon, a former jockey, said all the pieces are coming together for the 33-year-old Lima, Peru product to make a run at his first Tampa Bay Downs meet title. Morales has won seven titles at Presque Isle Downs, where he more than doubled the runner-up with 120 winners last season.

“He's been getting good mounts and he's making them count,” Bacon said. “He's riding incredibly well. He has a lot of natural physical ability, he picks things up right away and he is making smart decisions in his races.”

Bacon, who watched today's card at home, marveled at Morales's winning ride in the fifth race, a maiden claiming event at a mile on the turf for 3-year-old fillies. After keeping his mount, trainer Tim Hamm's gray filly Music Amore, in a stalking position early, Morales spotted an opening on the turn for home and steered Music Amore to the promised land, resulting in a length-and-a-half victory from Sign and Seal.

“He made a last-second decision to cut the corner turning for home, and I thought that was a really smart move,” Bacon said. “When he altered course to go inside, I thought that won the race for him.”

Morales's winning streak was halted in the seventh race on the turf, the Lambholm South Race of the Week, when he finished second aboard Pythoness by a half-length to Bleecker Street, a 4-year-old filly ridden by Hector Rafael Diaz, Jr., and trained by Chad Brown.

“Yeah, it took dang Chad Brown to get him,” Bacon said of the four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer.

Morales's first victory came in the second race on Daily Briefing, a 4-year-old filly owned by Curragh Stables and trained by John P. Terranova, II. She paid $8.40 to win as the second wagering choice. Morales won the third race on Bear Creek, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Mark Hoffman and trained by Dennis Ward. He paid $10.80 to win.

After sitting out the fourth and winning on 2-1 favorite Music Amore, Morales captured the sixth race on 5-2 favorite Curlin's Thrill, a 5-year-old gelding owned by Sabal Racing Stable and Patrick Rhodes and trained by Darien Rodriguez.

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The jockey's fifth victory came in the ninth race, a come-from-behind effort by 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding Cajun Casanova, owned by Monster Racing Stables and trained by Jose H. Delgado. Cajun Casanova paid $5.80 to win as the second betting choice. “That horse just ran huge today,” Morales said. “He has been running against tough horses, but when things go his way he is a monster. He liked to run and he gives it his all.”

Bacon, who has been retired as a jockey since 2002, looks forward to teaming with Morales throughout the season in hopes of challenging for the top spot.

“We still have to work our butts off to get anyplace,” she said. “This is a very deep jockey colony, but I know Pablo is going to keep to the task.”

Morales agrees with Bacon's assessment that he is physically and mentally capable of contending. “I'm in good shape and I'm healthy, and that's the main thing. I'm going to keep on working and wait for the right opportunities, and when I do get them, thank God I'm able to prove myself, because by proving myself to the trainers and owners they'll opt to ride me. Obviously, I can't do anything without their help,” he said.

“I'm extremely thankful to all the connections. I do this for myself, my family and the people who root for me. It can be sort of a roller coaster here, but days like this put me in the fight, and hopefully I'll get in a groove of staying more busy.”

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Stronach 5: 19 Winning Tickets Return $3,871

There were 19 winning tickets in Friday's Stronach 5, each returning $3,871.

The Stronach 5 featured races from Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park and Golden Gate Fields.

Slewys Chosen One ($13.60) got the Stronach 5 started by winning Gulfstream's fifth race, taken off the turf and run over the main track. The second and third legs of the Stronach 5 were contested at Laurel with Moquist ($5.60) winning the eighth race and Shady Munni ($6) winning the ninth race.

Gulfstream's seventh race, the fourth leg of the sequence also taken off the turf, went to the 6-1 shot Easy Come Easy Go ($15), who drove past 2-1 favorite Sister Lou Ann inside the final sixteenth. The second race at Golden Gate Fields served as the finale of the Stronach 5, and the 3-5 favorite Concise Advice ($3.20) made it look easy while driving away down the stretch.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Gulfstream Race 5: Slewys Chosen One $13.60.
Leg Two –Laurel Race 8: Moquist $5.60
Leg Three –Laurel Race 9: Shady Munni $6
Leg Four –Gulfstream Race 7: Easy Come Easy Go $15
Leg Five –Golden Gate Race 2: Concise Advice $3.20

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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Stronach 5: 39 Winning Tickets Return $1,767

Friday's Stronach 5, featuring races from Pimlico, Gulfstream, and Santa Anita, had 39 winning tickets with each worth $1,767.

Friday's sequence started with a bit of a longshot in Posterity ($17.60) winning Pimlico's seventh race. Lea Farms LLC's Lightening Larry ($8.80), a 2-year-old by Uncaptured, won the second leg and the fifth race at Gulfstream. The third leg of the sequence was a single for many in 2-5 shot Golden G ($2.80), who won Pimlico's eighth race.

The Stronach 5 headed to Santa Anita for the final two legs. Summer Rose ($3.80) was a popular favorite winning Santa Anita's second race while the sequence ended with Santa Anita's third race and the 6-1 shot Constant Conflict ($14.40) drawing away down the stretch.

Friday's races and sequence

Leg One –Pimlico 7th Race: Posterity $17.60
Leg Two –Gulfstream 5th Race: Lightening Larry $8.80
Leg Three –Pimlico 8th Race: Golden G $2.80
Leg Four – Santa Anita 2nd Race: Summer Rose $3.80
Leg Five –Santa Anita 3rd Race: Constant Conflict $14.40

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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Stronach 5 Rewards 46 Winning Ticket-Holders With $1,800

There were 46 winning tickets in Friday's Stronach 5 with each worth $1,800.80.

Friday's wager featured races from Pimlico Race Course, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields along with an industry-low 12-percent takeout.

Friday's first two races of the Stronach 5 began at Pimlico and both races produced prices, with Judi Blue Eyes ($10.80) winning the eighth race, an allowance event at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, and American Patrol ($19.80) winning the ninth race, a $40,000 maiden special weight event for 3-year-olds.

The third leg of the Stronach 5, Gulfstream's ninth race at five furlongs on the turf, was won by 9-5 favorite Missing Link ($5.60). The Stronach 5 headed west for the last two legs of its popular Friday program. Santa Anita's third race was won by the 1-2 favorite Zabava ($3), who registered her eighth career victory and second in her last three starts. The Stronach 5 concluded with Golden Gate's second race and another heavy favorite in Arouse N Go ($4.80) getting a trip to the winner's circle.

Friday's races and sequence

  • Leg One – Pimlico Race 8: Judi Blue Eyes $10.80
  • Leg Two – Pimlico Race 9: American Patrol $19.80
  • Leg Three –Gulfstream Park Race 9: Missing Link $5.60
  • Leg Four –Santa Anita Park Race 3: Zabava $3
  • Leg Five –Golden Gate Fields Race 2: Arouse N Go $4.80

Fans can watch and wager on the action at 1/ST.COM/BET as well as stream all the action in English and Spanish at LaurelPark.com, SantaAnita.com, GulfstreamPark.com, and GoldenGateFields.com.

The Stronach 5 In the Money podcast, hosted by Jonathan Kinchen and Peter Thomas Fornatale, will be posted by 2 p.m. Thursday at InTheMoneyPodcast.com and will be available on iTunes and other major podcast distributors

The minimum wager on the multi-race, multi-track Stronach 5 is $1. If there are no tickets with five winners, the entire pool will be carried over to the next Friday.

If a change in racing surface is made after the wagering closes, each selection on any ticket will be considered a winning selection. If a betting interest is scratched, that selection will be substituted with the favorite in the win pool when wagering closes.

The Maryland Jockey Club serves as host of the Stronach 5.

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