Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Pletcher Prospect Haads Field in Seventh at Tampa

Today's seventh  race at Tampa Bay Downs is a $22,500 maiden special weight at one mile and 40 yards on dirt for 3-year-olds, with an on-paper standout named Always Dreaming.

Scheduled post time is 3:19 p.m.

Bob Bauer, our Tampa Bay handicapper, says the Todd Pletcher-trained Always Dreaming is the day's best bet at the Oldsmar track.  Bob joins me in pointing out why Always Dreaming will almost certainly be a short-priced favorite.

One reason is that John Velazquez has traveled across state from Gulfstream Park to ride Always Dreaming.  It will be his only mount of the day.

Gulfstream has 11 races today. Velazquez passed on numerous rides there to travel and ride always Dreaming. That indicates he and Pletcher see a big upside for the son of Bodemeister.

The colt Always Dreaming has  raced twice. He finished third at 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont on July 1 and second at 6 furlongs at Saratog on Aug. 20.  Meb Racing Stables and Viola Racing Stables owns Always Dreaming.

The nine-horse field has five first-time starters,  all with prominent trainers and owners. 

One is the Pletcher trained Watch Your Words, a son of Arch that St. Elias Stable bought for $675,000 last year.  Jesus Castanon has the mount.
--Jim Freer

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HorseRacing FLA staff