The Friday card in Oldsmar will present a field of talented young turf runners a chance to break maiden before becoming a year older in less than 24 hours.
The race boasts a deserving favorite in the Reeve McGaughey-trained Watch the Music (8-5) who was too fresh in his second start, his Tampa debut, as Antonio Gallardo tried to settle him as he chased the eventual open lengths winner into the first turn.
Only semi-successful at that, he stalked the leader, dropped back into the second turn, tipped four wide entering the lane as if to go by and finished with interest, but without posting the slightest threat to the dominating leader.
Meanwhile, Raising Moon (5-2) was dawdling in the back with only several rivals beaten, launched a really between rivals entering the turn, wanting to keep his forward momentum into the lane but had to alter course to find his best footing.
When he did, he closed with a whoosh and nearly caught Watch the Music for place before galloping passed everyone into the clubhouse turn. He doesn’t have the prettiest frontend action but does possess very solid late foot.
While we expect the early line favorite to improve by minding his speed manners a bit better. we will fade him because the lower profile connections should ensure bettable odds. It a tough call so watch the race and decide: DEC 4, Race 10.
Taking Raising Moon to win at 5-2 or greater, an exacta box with the favorite, and adding Ludo (5-1) to the super-exotics mix.
