Tough getting back on the bike when you get split with a $46 winner and 11-1 third after a difficult trip but, as a wise guy once said, this is the business we have chosen.
Back to the Tampa turf we go in Friday’s fifth, and we think we found a horse to meet those parameters. When last seen, Quality Step (8-1) was successfully completing a climb up the class ladder at Indiana Grand, as many late developing gelded four-year-olds tend to do.
Is he good enough to beat much stiffer rivals in this secondary allowances in his return to Oldsmar? At 8-1 or greater, we will pay to find out. For one thing, he likes it in Tampa. He’s 3 for 11 here, 1 for 15 anywhere else, and he’s 3 for 9 at the trip, 1 for 16 at all other distances.
His figures are competitive given his best and trainer Keith Nations is 19% effective with shippers and/or repeaters. Furthermore, the last time he went 1-1/16 miles here he probably was best given his trip. See for yourself: APR 4, RACE 8, TAMPA BAY. Perhaps this time reuniting Alonso Quinonez can save from ground.
We’re taking Quality Step to win at 6-1, hopefully greater, and key-boxing trifectas with Windracer (7-2), Cammack (5-2) and J Beresford Tipton (3-1).
