BAUER'S SUNDAY BETS: FAST & FIRM at TAMPA

 By Bob Bauer

The weekend wraps up with a ten race card in Tampa, first Post time is scheduled for 12:14 PM.

Racing is conducted every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (except Easter), until closing day May 7.

Today's feature, Race 8, Post time 3:55, is a wide open mile on the green for newly turned three year-olds. Live coverage on RadioStPete.com, including track announcer Jason Beam starts at 3:52.          

  

Tampa Bay Race Fans

All of these youngsters are seeking their second lifetime wins under $20,000 Claiming conditions. At this stage of their careers these sophomores are still developing and are capable of substantial improvement week by week and race by race. 

The powerful Bennett barn has a longshot (6/1) who showed ability beating $25,000 Maiden Claimers at one mile and forty yards on December 17. MELINA'S DREAM (6) earned the best late pace figure in this field that day under veteran jock Fernando De La Cruz. Her sire GORMLEY (MALIBU MOON) has 23% success with first time turf starters. This gelding appears to be very sharp now and top trainer Gerald Bennett may have a live one here.

THE BET  $10 win and place on MELINA'S DREAM (6) and a $2 exacta box with PHAROAH'S PROPHECY (3) and FIERCE WARRIOR (9)          3,6,9       Total Bet $32     GOOD LUCK!!

PREVIOUS RESULTS:  1/8/22  Had the winner and the exacta. The win bet paid $74 and the exacta $37.40, a profit of $79.40 on the $32 wager. The bankroll is now $1,169.40 

BAUER'S SATURDAY BETS: FAST & FIRM at TAMPA

Tampa fans have a ten race program on hand for Saturday, January 8th. The first Post time is scheduled for 12:14 PM.

Live racing continues tomorrow, Sunday January 9, same Post time. The Downs will race every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (except Easter) until closing for the season on May 7.

Today's play is in Race 7, Post time is 3:25 PM. Older Fillies and Mares will contest a grassy mile and one-sixteenth under $32,000 Optional Claiming NW2X conditions. Live coverage on RadioStPete.com, including track announcer Jason Beam starts at 3:22.

The pick here is BLEEKER STREET (3), an undefeated (2 for 2, both turf) four year-old Filly from the ultra powerful Chad Brown outfit. This may not be an easy spot for this gray miss, however.

 To describe this field as salty might be an understatement. There is only a pair of four year-old Fillies entered here, the rest are older Mares.

These veteran runners will test our choice, most have multiple turf wins. Some are Stakes placed. The question is: can she handle the big girls?

Top tier turf trainer Chad Brown is one of the best in the business and is known for running his stock where they can win. Hector Diaz Jr., who has guided BLEEKER STREET (3) to both her scores, returns in the irons. This daughter of QUALITY ROAD may be a Filly with a future if she can beat these today. The depth of the competition is reflected by the Morning line. Our runner is 3/1, she might be an even money chalk against a lesser field.

THE BET:  $20 to win on BLEEKER STREET (3) and a $2 exacta box with PYTHONESS (2) and BRAMBLE BAY (4):
2,3,4     Total Bet: $32       GOOD LUCK!!

PREVIOUS RESULTS: 1/7  Our choice won by daylight, but we missed the exacta. Collected $146 on the win and place wagers, a profit of $94 on the $52 in total bets. The bankroll is now $1,090.

Gulfstream Rainbow 6 Hit for $1.2 Million Friday

Gulfstream Park's flagship exotic wager - the Rainbow 6 - was hit for the jackpot Friday of $1,200,305.88.

The carryover entered its 18th day Friday, dating back to Dec. 11th, the last jackpot payoff.

The winning bettor had to navigate three long odds thoroughbred winners in the six races.

* Bahamian Rhapsody (11:1) winning by a neck in race 7.
* Family Time (14:1) winning by 1-3/4 lengths in race 8.
* Canelo (30:1) winning by 3-3/4 lengths over favorite Eagle Chief.

There was just one odds-on-favorite winner in the last 6 races; MICROPHONE in race 5 at 1.6:1.

Those three races were enough cull out a SINGLE winner on the bet.

The payoff was the carryover of $921,693 plus 80% of Friday's wagers of $348,368. Gulfstream's takeout is 20% on the Rainbow 6 wager.

Saturday Gulfstream starts new pool for the Rainbow 6.

BAUER'S FRIDAY BETS: FAST & FRIM at TAMPA

 The Downs kicks off the weekend with a nine race card. The first Post time is scheduled for 12:38 PM.

Today's best bet comes in Race 6, Post time is 3:15. Older Fillies and Mares will sprint seven panels under $5,000 NW2/6M Claiming conditions.

Live coverage on RadioStPete.com, including track announcer Jason Beam will start at 3:12.

ATLANTIC PRINCESS (4) from the leading Bennett barn, has a lot to like in this contest. She has tallied a trio of wins at the Oldsmar oval, from four attempts. All of her scores were against better rivals than she faces here. This is the first time she drops into $5,000 company, a strong angle in this situation. Gerald Bennett, Tampa's training champ several times, has given this one four local works since November 21. He wins at a 23% clip with runners who return after a layoff of ninety days or more. This filly has been away since early September and appears to be ready for a top effort.

THE BET  $20 win and place on ATLANTIC PRINCESS (4) and a $2 exacta box with FUN PADDY (7) and SALSA RITA (2)          2,4,7  Total Bet $52    GOOD LUCK!!

PREVIOUS RESULTS  1/5  A tough loss. Our choice took the lead into the stretch to the 1/16 pole, but didn't last. Lost $32, the bankroll is now $996.00