Tampa Bay Downs

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...

Sent off at debut odds of 19-10 for a purse-enhanced maiden at Tampa, Juddmonte homebred Lory (Uncle Mo--Principal Role, by Empire Maker) overwhelmed her rivals by 7 3/4 lengths to become a new 'TDN Rising Star.' Clearly last into stride from the two hole, the bay quickly made up for lost time, accelerating all the way up into about fourth position as the field neared the entry to the far turn. Samy Camacho seized upon the opportunity to send Lory through an opening at the inside when pacesetting Summer Home...

Tampa Bay Downs announced its third purse increase this season, which will go into effect with Saturday's card. Ongoing gains in simulcast revenue have led to another 10% boost, with an additional $2,500 for all allowance races and maiden special weights and $1,250 claiming and starter races. The increase amounts to approximately $15,000 more per day in total purse money. Tampa Bay Downs previously increased purses by 10% Dec. 16 and again on Feb. 3. Officials further postponed the track's annual Turf Sprint Showcase Day from Sunday to next Wednesday,...

Tampa Bay Downs has pushed back its pair of $100,000 five-furlong turf sprints, the Turf Dash S. for older males and Lightning City S. for fillies and mares, from next Saturday to Sunday, Feb. 21. The pair of events are the centerpieces of the track's annual Turf Sprint Showcase Day. "The turf course has taken in excess of two inches of rain the last two days, with more rain forecast during the week," Tampa Bay Downs Vice President-General Manager Peter Berube said. "By switching the races to Sunday now, horsemen...

Candy Man Rocket (Candy Ride {Arg}), a blowout maiden winner at second asking at Gulfstream Jan. 9, led home a one-two finish for the Hall of Fame Bill Mott barn with a press-and-pounce, one-length score while making his two-turn debut in Saturday's GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs. Pasco S. winner Nova Rags (Union Rags) followed home his stablemate and just edged out the somewhat green Hidden Stash (Constitution) for second. The Sam F. Davis carries 10-4-2-1 qualifying points on the Road to the GI Kentucky Derby....

Favored at 9-5 while making her return to stakes company in Saturday's Suncoast S. at Tampa Bay Downs, Breeze Easy's Curlin's Catch (Curlin) split horses decisively at the entrance to the home stretch and powered clear to score by daylight. Beaten for speed in a scratched-down field of seven, the Ontario-bred raced slightly worse than midfield through the opening stages with a couple of rivals behind. Ridden quietly down the backstretch, she caught the eye when rallying between rivals three furlongs out, took an inside path into the lane and...

Albaugh Family Stables' Smiley Sobotka (Brody's Cause), last seen finishing second behind Keepmeinmind (Laoban) in the Nov. 28 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S., makes his sophomore debut in the 1 1/16-mile GIII Sam F. Davis S. at Tampa Bay Downs Saturday. The chestnut colt tuned up for his return to the races with a four-furlong drill in :46.81 (2/118) at Gulfstream Park last Saturday. Michael Shanley's Nova Rags (Union Rags) makes a return trip to Tampa following his win in the seven-furlong Pasco S. last time out Jan. 16. The...

6th-Tampa Bay Downs, $21,500, Msw, 1-31, 3yo, f, 1mT, 1:37.04, fm, 5 3/4 lengths. GOLDEN PLUME (f, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}--Nebraska Tornado {MG1SW-Fr, G1SP-Eng, $655,044}, by Storm Cat) sat the trip and kicked away in the stretch for a promising first appearance. Pounded down to 3-5 favoritism, the homebred grabbed a spot in third at the fence as a longshot sped far clear. She advanced willingly and in hand as the frontrunner started to tire heading for home, seized the lead at the top of the lane with no resistance...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency BROWN UNVEILS PRICEY KINGMAN COLT 5th-TAM, $22.5K, Msw, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m,T 2:44p.m. Chad Brown unveils another expensive European import for Peter Brant in ST. JOE LOUIS (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a 500,000gns TATOCT acquisition. His second dam is SW Miss Pinkerton (GB) (Danehill), who is the dam of GSW Precious Ramotswe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}). This is also the family of European Highweight and MG1SW Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}). TJCIS PPs   JUDDMONTE BLUEBLOOD DEBUTS AT TAMPA 6th-TAM, $22.5K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1mT, 3:15p.m. Juddmonte...

Tampa Bay Downs horsemen and horsewomen will benefit from another increase in purse money beginning Wednesday. The approximate 10% boost will provide a $1,000 increase for all maiden special weight, allowance, claiming and starter races. Peter Berube, the track's Vice President-General Manager, said a double-digit gain in simulcast wagering has more than offset a decline in on-track wagering, making the second increase of the 2020-2021 meeting possible. The track had raised purses by approximately 10% Dec. 16. Tampa Bay Downs is averaging $4.1-million in daily handle on its product, a...

Owner/trainer Kerri Raven, based at Tampa Bay Downs this winter with a string of 10 horses, went to the OBS Winter Mixed Sale Tuesday with the expectation of possibly buying a horse out of the auction's racing age section. The Ontario native returned to Tampa Wednesday with three horses, including the $150,000 session topper Bear Brian (Tiznow) (hip 368). "I just came up to see the horses of racing age, but I didn't really have a plan," Raven said on the road back to Tampa Wednesday afternoon. "We brought the...

Tampa Bay Downs is offering limited general admission for its upcoming Festival Preview Day 41 Presented by Lambholm South. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Florida track will limit the number of spectators on the day to 2,500. Tickets are available online at www.tampabaydowns.com. To be held Feb. 6, the Festival Preview Day card will feature the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and the Suncoast S. Horsemen, box-seat holders and season-ticket holders do not need to purchase tickets, but will need to present their passes at the gate.