Tampa Bay Downs will open for its 80th season of racing on Saturday. The
94-day meet continues through May 7, 2006, and the Oldsmar, Florida, oval will offer
26 stakes races worth more than a record $2.3 million. There will be no racing on Christmas or Easter. Regular post time is
12:25 p.m. (ET).
Six of the 26 stakes will receive a purse increase, with the track’s premiere
race for three-year-old fillies, the Florida Oaks, receiving the largest boost,
from $150,000 to $200,000. Overall, the increases will total more than $159,000,
a 7 percent jump from last year.
“One of Tampa Bay Downs’ key strategies through the last decade is our
continual commitment to improve the racing product,” said Peter Berube, vice
president and general manager of Tampa Bay Downs. “As a result, we have
increased the purses on several stakes races and focused on improving the races
on the schedule that are on the cusp of being graded. We feel that the quality
of horses running in these six races in the past merits additional purse
monies.”
The track’s stakes schedule kicks off with the opening day feature, the
$60,000 Inaugural S. for two-year-olds at six furlongs, which has lured a field
of 14. FOREST DANZ (Forestry) ranks as the 5-2 favorite on the morning line,
with LIQUOREUX (Carson City) a close second choice at 3-1.
On February 18, Festival Preview Day will feature three stakes races,
including the $125,000 Sam F. Davis S. for three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles and
the $125,000 Endeavour Breeders’ Cup S. for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on
the turf.
Festival Day itself is slated for March 18 and will offer four stakes races,
including the $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) for three-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles,
the Florida Oaks at 1 1/16 miles, and the $150,000 Hillsborough S. (G3) for
fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the grass.
Another highlight is Florida Cup Day on April 8, which will offer six $75,000
stakes races for Florida-breds at a variety of distances on both dirt and turf.
Last year’s stakes schedule was a handicapper’s delight, with an average of
10.7 horses per race. While favorites won at a respectable 36 percent rate, the
average mutuel payoff was $13.53 and included 14 stakes winners who paid $10 or
more.
This year, bettors will enjoy increased payouts on many exotic wagers. The
track has lowered its takeout on Daily Double and Quinella wagers by 2.5 percent;
exacta wagers by 1 percent; and Pick 3 and Pick 4 wagers by 0.9 percent.
California-based trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who was allotted 25 stalls, is
among the new conditioners who will challenge the veteran barns of Kirk Ziadie,
Lynne Scace, and last year’s leading trainer, Don Rice. Other first-time
trainers at Tampa Bay Downs this season include Merrill Scherer, formerly a
winter regular at Fair Grounds, and Californians Wesley Ward and Lonnie
Arterburn.
A talent jockey colony will be present, including the up-and-coming Jose
Lezcano, who won the Delaware Oaks (G2) and Florida Oaks this year aboard R Lady Joy (Vicar) for Ziadie. Former leading rider T.D. Houghton returns, as does Winston Thompson,
the leading rider at Suffolk Downs this season with 158 wins from 799 starts.
Jesus Castanon, the leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs in 2004-05, plans to
remain in Kentucky through the winter.