All eyes will be on a horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday but spare a few moments for a Horse to Watch we’ve been awaiting in Oldsmar. You won’t make a score but will remain liquid from today’s eighth from Tampa Bay.
For Fermat (5-2) it’s been nothing but trouble and excuses in his three-race career. On debut, never got going until the race was virtually over, making very good ground late without threatening.
We bet him back on FEB 12 where he suffered through a wide trip throughout while showing some run but when hopelessly beaten at headstretch, the rider took care of him through the lane.
And subsequent to that, it was a dirt try first time in blinkers where he showed improved early lick before finishing evenly.
Today, he returns to turf, drops into ca claimer for the first time for Arnaud Delacour, who is 38% effective in that scenario, and gets a rider switch to Daniel Centeno. The Stella Thayer homebred breezed a sharp half-mile in preparation for this. His only sibling has a win on turf.
We’re taking Fermat to win, no price restrictions, and key-box exactas Christophe Clement newcomer Noyan (7-2) and state-bred maiden-allowance running Magical Adventure (6-1).
