The featured fifth race to begin the racing week in Oldsmar in a preliminary allowances for fillies and mares going one mile on the Tampa turf.
It won’t be difficult to find the most likely winner. In Italian (3-2) a $600K purchase at auction had a tough trip when second here on debut, parlayed that effort into an open lengths score at Belmont. But where has she been since?
We’re not sure, either, but handicappers have made a living with Chad Brown coming off long layups. He brings them back fit enough to win on return, whatever the level of sharpness, and that’s probably the case here.
Hit the Whoa (2-1) ships in for Christophe Clement, who has a pair of winners at the meet. This filly has more experience and against better, but she’s alternately has been disappointing or has run into tough trips. She’s a good fit.
Instead, we are attracted to a price shot who broke maiden here in early December. While her performance figure was slow, Kitten Tales’ (12-1) late pace was good, this after being forced to await running room. See TAMPA BAY DOWNS replay, DEC 3, Race 5.
We like the idea of Arnaud Delacour reaching out for traditional partner Daniel Centeno and a good trip can win this–in the hopes we don’t see her classy rivals return at their peak.
Taking Kitten Tales to win at 8-1 or greater and exacta key-boxes with her rivals above.
