OLDSMAR, Fla. (December 23, 2008) Saturday, December 27 is Tampa Bay Downs’s second annual Cotillion Festival Day, presented by Lambholm South. Cotillion Festival Day is a day of two-year-old racing capped off by two six furlong $65,000 stakes: the Inaugural Stakes for two-year-olds and the Sandpiper Stakes for two-year-old fillies. Among the top trainers who have nominated their two-year-olds to the Cotillion Festival Day card are Todd Pletcher, Graham Motion, Christophe Clement, and Eddie Plesa.

The $65,000 Inaugural Stakes has garnered 12 entries, including Code Runner, winner of the Fasig Tipton Dash Stakes at Calder Race Course. Code Runner is a Florida-bred son of Omega Code owned by Lloyd and Lisa Carnes, trained by Robert Smith and will be piloted by Paco Lopez; the colt has accrued $96,054 in lifetime earnings thus far.

Prowl On made his last start in the $100,000 Fitz Dixon, Jr. Memorial Juvenile Stakes at Presque Isle Downs, where he finished second by a length. The Florida-bred Roar of the Tiger colt has amassed a bankroll of $65,325 from two wins and one second-place finish from four attempts for owner Robert Van Worp and trainer Adolfo Exposito. Bold Captian comes to the Inaugural Stakes after a win in the $75,000 Ohio Juvenile Stakes at Thistledown Race Course; the Bold Truth gelding has earned $57,260 for owner Pyrite Stables and conditioner Miguel Feliciano.

The $65,000 Sandpiper Stakes has drawn entries from eleven fillies, including C Karma, who comes off of a victory in the Pontalba Stakes; the daughter of Exchange Rate is also the winner of the Grade III $150,000 Natalma Stakes at Woodbine. C Karma, who has earned $189,810 in seven lifetime starts, carries the colors of her owner-trainer Pamela Edel.

Also entering the Sandpiper Stakes is Hooh Why, a Cloud Hopping filly who comes into the race following a close second-place finish in the $150,000 Display Stakes. Hooh Why is owned by Mark Hoffman and Derby Daze Farm and is under the care of conditioner Michael Reavis. Wicked Woman of Ny enters the Sandpiper Stakes off of a three-race win streak; the Florida-bred daughter of Alke broke her maiden by 10 ½ lengths in October and has finished out of the money only once for owner Joel Sainer and trainer David Braddy.

Finish Lines… Past leading rider Jesse Garcia was injured in a training accident Tuesday morning at Tampa Bay Downs. He will spend at least one night in the hospital for observation; however, he could be sidelined for an extended period of time pending the outcome of further medical evaluations.

Racing resumes Friday, December 26 with a ten race card; the High 5 carryover is $4,090.44. The Silks Poker room is open daily from 12:30 PM through 12:30 AM; 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. Please note that there will be no simulcast wagering on December 24th and the Tampa Bay Downs facility will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25.