Friday, February 01 2013
FESTIVAL PREVIEW TURF RACES HOLD SPECIAL APPEAL
OLDSMAR, FL. – In terms of the “big picture,” the majority of the focus Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs will be on the Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds, and rightfully so.
DYNAMIC SKY HEADS DAVIS; FULL FIELDS GALORE SATURDAY
OLDSMAR, FL. – Pasco Stakes winner Dynamic Sky, from the potent barn of trainer Mark Casse, headlines a 10-horse field for Saturday’s Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, one of three graded events on the track’s lucrative 12-race Festival Preview Day.
Monday, January 28 2013
SAM F. DAVIS STAKES PART OF KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS SYSTEM
OLDSMAR, FL. – Anticipation is building to a fever pitch for the Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes for 3-year-olds at Tampa Bay Downs, one of three official Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands prep races scheduled across the nation for Saturday.
Thursday, January 24 2013
LIGHTING CITY STAKES DRAWS HIGH-QUALITY FIELD
OLDSMAR, FL. – Madame Giry, a winner of five races in a row before a narrow defeat last month at Gulfstream, is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $75,000 Lightning City Stakes for older fillies and mares at five furlongs on the turf.
The Lightning City Stakes is the showcase of a full weekend of Thoroughbred action at Tampa Bay Downs that kicks off with a 10-race card Friday beginning at 12:38 p.m. The Lightning City will be contested as the 10th race on Saturday’s 11-race card.
Monday, January 21 2013
SHANGHAI BOBBY HEADS SAM F. DAVIS NOMINATIONS
OLDSMAR, FL. – Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Shanghai Bobby, a near-unanimous choice as 2012 Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Male, headlines a list of 54 3-year-olds nominated to the Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes on Feb. 2.
Saturday, January 19 2013
NO DENYING ALLEY OOP OOP; SERPA WINS THREE AGAIN
OLDSMAR, FL. – Alley Oop Oop, who drew into the field from the also-eligible list after a late scratch, powered through the stretch to win the $30,000 Tampa Bay Stakes Prep on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs by a neck from El Commodore.
A crowd of 7,230 poured into the track for the 11-race card on Cap Giveaway Day.
Monday, December 31 2012
SANDPIPER WINNER COR COR TO CONTEST JAN. 1 GRADE III
OLDSMAR, FL. – Tampa Bay Downs will offer a full plate of simulcast wagering Monday and Tuesday to ring out 2012 and welcome 2013 before live racing resumes Wednesday with a 10-race card.
At Gulfstream Park on Tuesday – New Year’s Day – Cor Cor, who won the $75,000 Sandpiper Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs on Dec. 1, will compete in the Grade III, $100,000 Old Hat Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going six furlongs.
Sunday, December 23 2012
MIND SPELL MUCH THE BEST FOR DaCOSTA, CENTENO
OLDSMAR, FL. – Trainer Jason DaCosta and jockey Daniel Centeno both considered Lucky Tiz the horse to beat in Saturday’s $22,200 allowance optional claiming feature for 2-year-olds at Tampa Bay Downs – especially since Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux came in to ride the Kentucky-bred colt.
Sunday, December 16 2012
FERNANDO JARA – REMEMBER HIM? – SEEKS RETURN TO TOP
OLDSMAR, FL. – Five years ago, jockey Fernando Jara thought winning major races might be as easy as riding a bicycle.
The native of Panama won the 2006 Belmont Stakes on Jazil and the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Classic and 2007 Dubai World Cup on Invasor – all while still a teenager. Invasor’s two huge victories alone were worth $11-million in purse money.
Saturday, December 15 2012
KAELIN SHOWS HE KNOWS WHEN TO HOLD ’EM
OLDSMAR, FL. – Toward the end of the Churchill Downs fall meeting last month, trainer Forrest Kaelin entered his 3-year-old filly Slander in a $15,000 claiming race.
But after reflecting on her third-place finish for a $20,000 claiming price against 11 rivals at Keeneland on Oct. 12, the 77-year-old Kaelin decided it was too risky to put Slander up for sale.
Thursday, December 13 2012
TRAINERS CIBELLI, STEWART OFF TO STRONG STARTS
OLDSMAR, FL. – Trainers Jane Cibelli and Chad Stewart insist they’re only as good as the people and the horses around them.
Judging from the first five days of the 2012-13 Tampa Bay Downs meeting, though, it’s obvious both possess the traits needed for long-term success in a demanding occupation.
Sunday, December 09 2012
MARTINEZ BACK HOME AFTER BREEDERS’ CUP SUCCESS
OLDSMAR, FL. – Willie Martinez knew his supporters back in Tampa Bay – from horsemen to racing fans to his family – were cheering wildly when he won the $1.5-million Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint aboard Trinniberg last month at Santa Anita.
