Saturday, February 21, 2009

VICTORY ALLEGED HONEST IN TAMPA BAY BREEDERS’ CUP

OLDSMAR, Fla. (February 21, 2009) Victory Alleged pulled an upset in today’s $150,000 Tampa Bay Breeders’ Cup, besting a field of nine other older horses to win at odds of 28-1 with jockey Carlos Marquez in the irons. Victory Alleged is an eight-year-old son of Victory Gallop trained by Dennis Manning for owner Mac Fehsenfeld.

Victory Alleged broke alertly, settled behind early leaders Riversrunrylee and Fahgedaboudit Sal, moved to the lead in the late stretch to win by a neck. Classic Campaign was second, and Society’s Chairman was third, completing a trifecta that paid $1,381.20 for a $2 wager.


Conditioner Dennis Manning said that he was unworried about Victory Alleged’s three month layoff coming into the Tampa Bay Breeders’ Cup. “I used old fashioned training methods. We have a nice track up at Oak Ridge (Equine Center) in Ocala, and this horse was fit. I wasn’t worried about the horse running out of trainer at the sixteenth pole; I was worried about the horse running out of horse. But I knew that he was ready to run, and it was a matter of whether we got the trip and it was a matter of whether we had the best horse.” Manning added that while he’s considering his options, Victory Alleged’s next stop will likely be the Kinsman Stable Turf Classic held here on Florida Cup Day, April 4.

Winning jockey Carlos Marquez said of his mount’s victory, “I had never ridden the horse before, and this was my first ride at Tampa Bay Downs. I do ride for Mr. Manning in New Jersey. Mr. Manning told me the horse was fit and would run late and I shouldn't worry if the field got away from us. And the horse was really relaxed down the back stretch so I asked him for a bit getting to the turn and got him to the outside coming home and he was just eating up the ground at the end.”


Finish Lines… The Lambholm South Race of the Week was won by Mayomast, a five-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast under the care of trainer Benny Feliciano for owner RSL Racing Stable. Mayomast was bred in Kentucky by J. Stuart, P. Bance & Andrew Rosen, and was guided to victory by reinsman Ricardo Feliciano.

Tomorrow, February 22nd is Family Fiesta Day in the Tampa Bay Downs Backyard from noon through three PM. Join in the fun for the whole family hosted by Univision Television; the afternoon features free Latin-themed entertainment and personalities, pony rides, games and more!

Racing resumes tomorrow, February 22 with an eleven race card; the Pick 6 carryover is $4,151.75, and the High 5 carryover is $3,519.05. The Silks Poker Room is open daily from 12:30 PM through 12:30 AM, and The Downs Golf Practice Facility is open on Mondays from 10:00 AM through 10:00 PM and on Tuesdays through Sundays from 8:30 AM through 10:00 PM.

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