Check out our race-by-race verdicts and nap selection for Saturday's meeting at Tampa Bay Downs, Florida.
12.30: ANIMAUXSELLE had been taking on stiffer opposition prior to her latest third, when she was only a neck behind a subsequent winner with Mancora behind. She doesn’t have a great strike-rate but this trip could prove ideal so she can thwart the hat-trick bid of Candy For All. Our Petunia refused to settle over a mile last time but that was a rare failure and Joan Scott’s filly also merits serious consideration. Only In August looks best of the rest.
1.00: Rita of Cascia had a subsequent winner behind when scoring over an extended 5f here in February but dropped out tamely next time and is essentially a sprinter. It will be a surprise if she can hang on to the coat tails of DON’T FIGHT (NAP) in the closing stages as Juan Arriagada’s filly stays further and looks a cut above these on recent form. Sassy Miss Margie could grab a place at decent odds with Cascabell Queen preferred to Sweet Gelato of the others.
1.30: This looks a competitive dash with several having some sort of chance. Purple Monster has only had three runs and may well be capable of better. Philosophy won in a similar grade at Gulfstream Park in February and Scarlet City has reportedly been working well here since his last run at Hawthorne in December. But MIDNIGHT BLUE NOTE almost took advantage of a big drop in grade here last time in a race that’s worked out well. Anthony Granitz’s gelding probably boasts the best form on offer, though February winner Kholstomer certainly should be left out of calculations as he represents a yard that chooses its targets here carefully. I’m Cardinal and Notacatbutacard also warrant a second look.
2.00: Red Venus has shown ability between 6f and a mile but doesn’t set a particularly high standard. Estilo Talentoso has found only one too good in all three starts to date but she was well beaten when upped to this trip last month at Gulfstream Park. Double That blew the start at Churchill Downs in December but the penny was starting to drop in the closing stages and she’ll know more today. The vote, however, goes to VIGILANTES WAY, who will also have learned plenty from her third at Aqueduct just before Christmas.
2.30: Six of the 14 runners in this maiden are making their competitive debuts. The Freud gelding Psychic Dream may prove the pick of those, ahead of the Lemon Drop Kid colt Dom Caetano and Gravitas but we’ll stick with those with some experience. U S DELTA FORCE showed good pace at Belmont Park back in September and the grey could be one to follow this year. A $100,000 yearling, Accessible has finished second in two of his three starts to date and should be winning soon. Port Hunter cost $320,000 but he’s not been getting home at Gulfstream Park. Small Talk has disappointed since a debut second at Churchill Downs.
3.00: WHITE DRILL has the outside berth but Darien Rodriguez’s three-year-old deserves a change of luck having placed in all five starts here since Boxing Day in slightly better company. Fort King is having a first run away from Gulfstream Park but is another eased in grade while Cool Hand Lute appears to be improving with experience. Row The Boat placed a couple of times at Canterbury Park last summer but is probably best watched on his reappearance. Not Telling may prove best of the three newcomers.
3.30: Races like this have been known to produce the odd upset and Marnie Girl, who was in good form last year, could outrun big odds after a pipe-opener at Turf Paradise. SERANITSA was going well at Gulfstream Park around this time last year and was highly tried after. She has the best overall form and is taken to make a winning return ahead of Hungry Kitten, last seen in a Grade 3 at Churchill Downs last June. War Rose hasn’t done a lot wrong here recently and reversed earlier form with Pallas Athene in February so rates a danger.
4.00: A tricky finale but Completely Bonkers was back on song last month and should give supporters a run for their money again. However, along with Toss, Enduring Honor and Jimmy D, he was swamped by the finishing burst of HONEST TO GOODNESS in February. Carlos Silva’s gelding may have seen too much daylight last month but Harry Hernandez will be able to bide his time today from stall 12. The selection beat Quality Step here in January and the latter won next time and placed on his latest outing when Astute Warrior was a never-dangerous fifth.
