Florida Oaks

Sent off a lukewarm favorite at 5-2, Chiefswood Stable's homebred 3-year-old filly WASKESIU (f, 3, American Pharoah--Finn's Girl, by Bernardini) sat a perfect ground-saving trip just behind the speed, tipped out in the lane and finished determinedly for a maiden stakes success in Saturday's GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs. Winner of her turf debut at Aqueduct Nov. 18 and a slow-starting third in the Jan. 6 Ginger Brew S., the Ontario-bred took advantage of her low draw in gate four to tuck in at the fence to take...

Trainer Chad Brown has started but three horses in the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, none of which has finished better than sixth, but in the form of Klaravich Stable's Domestic Product (Practical Joke), he could very well be getting his picture taken Saturday afternoon. Having won his maiden over nine furlongs at second asking at Aqueduct in late October, the next logical step was the Dec. 2 GII Remsen S., but he caught a rain-affected strip he may not have preferred and faded through the final furlong to...

Trainer Todd Pletcher has unsaddled the winner of the GIII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby a record five times--no one else has more than two to their credit--and he stands a fair chance to make it a half-dozen Saturday afternoon when he sends out the two favorites on the morning line. Pegged at odds of 8-5 is Whisper Hill Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Tapit Trice (Tapit), who will attempt to provide his sire with a fourth winner of the race since in its last 10 runnings (Ring Weekend, 2014; the...

Making her U.S. debut as the 3-1 second-elect, Dolce Zel (Fr) (Zelzal {Fr}) fell into a golden trip from a perfect draw and pounced late to narrowly defeat stablemate Spicer (Quality Road) in Saturday's GIII Florida Oaks. It was a second straight Florida Oaks winner saddled by trainer Chad Brown and keyed a one-two finish for the second time in the day's graded events. Away without incident from the three hole, the bay filly--adding Lasix for her first stateside appearance--secured a cozy spot at the fence as Spicer prompted soft...

With a near 100% chance of precipitation in greater Tampa, Saturday's GIII Florida Oaks is at the mercy of Mother Nature, but whether the race remains on the grass or is transferred to the main track, the Mike Dini-owned and -trained Alittleloveandluck (Arrogate) stands an excellent shot of getting her picture taken post-race. The gray tried open company in her first three appearances, rounding out the triple in a one-mile Parx maiden in October before besting her fellow Florida-breds by a nose in a sythetic-track test at Gulfstream Nov. 12....

Jouster shot to the front as Domain Expertise settled in the second half of the field heading into the first turn. Residing in the two path while covered up midpack down the backstretch, the 5-1 chance took aim at the front approaching the quarter pole and was fanned four wide around the final turn. Picking up the tempo but with seemingly too much to do as Jouster was free-running in early stretch, the Chad Brown runner proved undeterred as Antonio Gallardo asked for more and his charge responded, reeling in...

Starlight Racing's Jouster (Noble Mission {GB}) looks to secure her first black-type victory Saturday in the GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa. Unsuccessful in her first two attempts on dirt, the bay graduated by 8 3/4 lengths when switched to the turf going two turns at Gulfstream Jan. 10. The 'TDN Rising Star' took the field wire-to-wire next out over the same track and trip Feb. 7, earning an 84 Beyer Speed Figure, two points below her maiden-breaking figure. It is no surprise that the biggest competition to the Todd Pletcher trainee...

Unbeaten 'TDN Rising Star' Tobys Heart (Jack Milton) is aiming for a return to action in either the GIII Herecomesthebride S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 27 or the GIII Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs Mar. 6. Both races are contested on grass at 1 1/16 miles. Co-owned by Terry Hamilton and trainer Brian Lynch, the 3-year-old filly was impressive in a pair of efforts sprinting on the lawn last term. After kicking off her career with a 'Rising Star' performance beneath the Twin Spires June 4--following a slow start,...