OLDSMAR, Fla. (February 27, 2010) Don’t Forget Gil, a four-year-old Kafwain filly bred in New York by Jonathan Thorne, captured the 26th running of the Wayward Lass Stakes today for owner Alan Brodsky and trainer Mark Hennig with Daniel Centeno in the irons.

Don’t Forget Gil stalked the pace through the opening panels of the 1 1/16 miles main track test, moving to the lead at mid-stretch to emerge the victor by 2 ½ lengths. Choragus was second, and Miss Match was third, yielding a trifecta payout of $150.20 for a $2 wager.

Mark Hennig’s assistant Robbie Rader said of Don’t Forget Gil’s effort in the Wayward Lass, “She was training very, very well. We were just making it a starting point; we sure didn’t over-train her to get here, we trained her to where we thought she was fit enough. A mile and a sixteenth after six months off is a little tough, but she was training very well. She’s probably better now that she was last year. She’s better in the sense that she’s so much more mature than she was last year. Everything she does now is so mellow -she rated very well in that spot and was very willing to sit back there. He (jockey Daniel Centeno) have any problem with her. We’re kind of looking forward to this year.” Rader said he was unsure what Don’t Forget Gil’s next race would be.

Winning Jockey Daniel Centeno was pleased to have been given the mount. "I had never ridden her before but I had ridden against her last year, and I was able to watch replays of some of her recent races. The race was run pretty much as we expected. She has enough speed away from the gate that I was able to set up outside the leaders and just wait on them. I asked her to go up after the lead in the turn and she really picked it up nicely.  I was able to get by the leaders without asking her again in deep stretch."

Finish Lines… Trainer Chad Stewart teamed up with owner World Thoroughbred Racing, Inc. to celebrate two wins on today’s card; his first victory came with Linus E, a four-year-old Lion Heart colt ridden by leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Daniel Centeno. Stewart and World Thoroughbred Racing got their second trip to the Winner’s Circle with Yournotthebossofme, this time with Luis Gonzalez in the irons. 

Tampa Bay Downs is now offering reserved finish-line seats for Festival Day on March 13, 2010. Tickets are $15 each and include a reserved finish-line seat, admission, a program and a premium giveaway. For more information or to make reservations, please contact the Tampa Bay Downs Admissions Department at 813.866.4401 ext.1350.

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Racing resumes tomorrow, February 28 with a ten race card; there is a Pick Six carryover of $4,101.04.  The Silks Poker Room is open daily from 12:30 PM through 12:30 AM; the Downs Golf Practice Facility is open on Mondays from 10:00 AM through 10:00 PM and on Tuesdays through Sundays from 8:30 AM through 10:00 PM.