TDN RISING STARS

February 17, 2010 - Tampa Bay Downs, Race 9, , USD $20,200, 1 1/16m, NW1X

Odysseus, C, 2010, by Malibu Moon

1st Dam: Persimmon Hill, by Conquistador Cielo
2nd Dam: Rose O'Riley, by Nijinsky II
3rd Dam: Rosetta Stone, by Alyred

Owner: Padua Stables
Breeder: Haymarket Farm & Lakemont Stable
Trainer: Tom Albertrani

Odysseus was the reason that jockey Rajiv Maragh decided to spend the afternoon on Florida's Suncoast, and the decision paid dividends, as the scopey chestnut colt strolled down the Tampa stretch to score by 15 powerful lengths. Purchased for $110,000 out of the 2008 FTSAUG yearling sale, he breezed an effortless eighth of a mile in :10.2 prior to last year's OBSMAR sale (video) and was knocked down to these connections for $250,000. Odysseus debuted in a Halloween maiden at Aqueduct, finishing runner-up in a key event, was rested, and returned with a good-looking half-length graduation at Gulfstream Jan. 14 (video). That was an on-pace effort, and trainer Tom Albertrani was looking for something a little bit different yesterday. "We wanted to get him some two-turn experience and try to give him an easy race where we could get him to settle and let him get into his own rhythm," he explained. "We were hoping to see that and everything worked out accordingly." Indeed it did. Content to lay second as fellow Gulfstream raider Exhi (Maria's Mon) cut out the pace, Odysseus, the 1-2 chalk, began to reel that one in on the turn, took command in upper stretch and was confidently handled for the balance. The winner likely earned a return visit to the Oldsmar oval for the GIII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 13. "That was in the back of our minds, and if he handled it it would definitely be in the plans," the winning conditioner confirmed. "He was very impressive and he was eased down the last 16th of a mile." Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $39,920.