Tampa Bay: Stakes Races Preview

Post times are approaching for today’s two stakes races at Tampa Bay Downs.

They are the first stakes races of 2016-2017 at the Oldsmar.

The $100,000 guaranteed Inaugural is the seventh race, with scheduled post of 3:19 p.m.  It is six furlongs on dirt for 2-year-old males.

The $100,000 guaranteed Sandpiper is the ninth race, with scheduled post of 4:20 p.m.  It is six furlongs on dirt for 2-year-old fillies.

As in many Tampa  Bay races, entries in the stakes include horses that last raced at tracks in numerous other states—in today’s case Kentucky, Ohio, Delaware, Indiana and Maryland. There also will be numerous horses that last raced at the Gulfstream Park West meet at Calder.

The morning line odds for the seventh race favor Obvious One at 5-2 who is coming in off of two victories by a combined 12 ¼ lengths at Thistledown in Ohio.  Jockey Walter De La Cruz will ride for trainer Jason DaCosta

Two of trainer Gerald Bennett’s horses are entered in the Inaugural. They are Chance of Luck, at 3-1 in the morning line, and Triumphant Joy at 9-2.

The Sandpiper will be a case of two rematches for the Bennett-trained  R Angel Katelyn,  the morning line 2-1 favorite  at 2-1.

On Oct.8 at Delaware Park, R Angel Katelyn finished second by two lengths to La Key, at six furlongs on a track listed as good.

It was the third win in five career starts for La Key.  Erick Rodriguez will ride for trainer Baltazar  Galvan.

R Angel Katlyn came back to win the Juvenile Filly Sprint on Nov12.  at the GP West meet. Edwin Gonzalez, who is new to Tampa Bay Downs, will ride her. 

La Key and R Angel Katelyn  will face some stiff competition in the Sandpiper from two of trainer Kathleen O’ Connell’s entries—Rashette and Lu Lu Laura,  who finished third and seventh in the Juvenile Filly Sprint.

Another significant contender  is Jumby Bay,  trained by the legendary Todd A. Pletcher, with morning line odds of 4-1.