The best thing about Tampa Bay turf racing is its surface and how it manages to produced consistent form even at the lower levels.
A good example may be today’s fifth race for $16 claimers for older horses going a mile, and we love what Chris Gatos has done with War Cross (7-2).
Following a barn change, the gelded 6-year-old returned at the $10K level and blew away the opposition by 5-1/4 lengths after stalking the leaders while racing wide throughout.
War Cross got back to his best level and Gatos wisely gave him 45 days of recovery time, bringing his runner back at a higher level, clearly an optimistic sign.
The clincher is he exits a key race producing two next out winners and his recent half-mile blowout was eighth fastest of 104 workers the week of Apr. 15.
We’re taking War Cross to win at 3-1 or greater and boxing an exacta with Chess’s Dream (5-2), a very good second when dropped to this level last out.
